The latest Nintendo Direct dropped some fresh gameplay for Pokémon Legends: Z-A, giving us a peek at its exploration and battle mechanics. But what really got tongues wagging was the "ZA Ascent Battle"—a mysterious, ranked nighttime showdown in Lumiose City that feels totally different from anything we've seen in a mainline Pokémon game before.
This brand-new system immediately sparked a hilarious comparison from Japanese netizens: "Isn't this just like TYPE-MOON's Fate series and its 'Holy Grail War'?" So, what's the deal?
The "ZA Ascent Battle" is a fresh, special combat event. Competitors kick off at the lowest "Z-rank" and battle their way up to "A-rank," with the ultimate victor snagging a legendary "wish-granting" reward. Plus, there's a "surprise attack" mechanic, letting players ambush other trainers from behind to gain a tactical edge.
In fact, right after the presentation, "Pokémon Legends: Z-A" and "Holy Grail War" both shot up the trending topics on Japanese X (formerly Twitter). Netizens were quick to point out the uncanny resemblances:
・Battles kick off at night.
・Surprise attacks are fair game.
・The winner gets their wish granted.
...Sound familiar? Yeah, it's basically the "Holy Grail War," right?
For those unfamiliar, the Holy Grail War in the Fate series revolves around the "omnipotent wish-granting device: the Holy Grail." Appearing every sixty years in Fuyuki City, it possesses the power to fulfill any desire. Only one pair of Master and Servant can claim this right. And hey, the concept of Pokémon (Servants) and Trainers (Masters) isn't too far off! Plus, surprise attacks are a common tactic in Fate, and that whole "wish-granting" prize? Yeah, that's a dead ringer.
So, with the "Pokémon Legends: Z-A" winner getting a wish granted, it's essentially a kinder, gentler Holy Grail War, right? Many are joking, "Is this the Holy Grail War without the decapitations?" or "It's the world-peace version of the Holy Grail War!"
Of course, the game's full mechanics and settings haven't been officially revealed yet. But based on what we've seen, the similarities are definitely striking! Whether "Pokémon Legends: Z-A" can truly deliver a more intricate world and a fresh battle experience remains to be seen, so we'll just have to wait for those future official reveals.