Pokémon Legends Z-A Feels Like Coming Home

I've been playing Pokémon since the day my mother got me Pokémon Diamond for my 5th birthday and have been playing ever since. Though that's not exactly true. As I grew up, I kept playing. I explored Johto and Kanto in Heart Gold, Unova in Black... Even went back and played Emerald.

Then, someone stole my suitcase, and with it, my laptop, my PS3, and my 3DS. Gone. I wasn't able to play XY or Sun & Moon.

Years later, after some begging, my parents bought me a Nintendo Switch, and a friend bought me Pokémon Sword. Excited, I started playing, got to the 6th gym and stopped playing for no reason. It just didn't click.

Around that same time, I began to realize why I felt so disconnected from so many things. That's the year I realized I was trans.

Some years later, I decided to replay it, as a girl. And I loved it. I loved the customization, being able to play as myself and not as a default character.

Hungry for more, I played Pokémon Legends Arceus and became my favorite game of all time. Being able to be killed by wild Pokémon? Sign me up! Being able to explore the wilderness while catching them all for a chance to go back home? Arceus, you can isekai me anytime you want!

I loved fighting the Frenzied Nobles, hiding from Alpha Pokémon on the tall grass, and throwing mud on their faces just so I could get closer and catch them.

And then I played Pokémon Scarlet and the same thing happened. I loved the story, the characters, and generally had a lot of fun. I even started playing a second time with one of my girlfriends using the Union Circle, and I completed the Pokédex.

Curious about the past I missed, I played Y soon after Z-A revealed. The main story felt underwhelming. Like it was over too soon, and nothing really happened.

My perception changed when I got to the postgame. Truly exploring Lumiose while learning about Emma's story... I connected with her story in a way I never expected, and I genuinely came to care about her.

I became invested in the game. I walked all around Lumiose City, entering every restaurant, helping at the Hotel Richissime, going to the museum and uncovering the reasons behind Emma's disappearances. After all that, and Looker leaving, I saved the game on the Looker Bureau and stopped playing. Still, I never thought we would see Emma again.

So when she appeared on one of the trailers, I screamed. I even shed a tear. She's all grown up now, and she's happy. She found her place in the world, and she's fighting to protect it. And we're returning to Lumiose City to help her.

Spending hours in the boutiques trying on every outfit, sitting in a café with my Sylveon before a night of battles, and helping Emma face the rogue Mega Pokémon... It's going to be great.

These games reignited my love for the series, and for the first time since the era of Black and White, I'll be there on launch day for the new game.

And I truly can't wait to walk through the doors of the Looker Bureau again.