POKEMON LEGENDS: ARCEUS
Next up, we have the start of a new era of Pokemon games, fully taking Pokemon into the realm of open world games that allow you to run around and explore and catch Pokemon, something the series had been sorely lacking for way too long. The game takes place in Hisui, the ancient name of the Sinnoh region, and is set in the Pokemon equivalent of the Meiji Restoration period of Japan's history, involving the colonization and conquest of the Hokkaido region.
You star as Rei or Akari, a child from the modern day (Possibly Lucas or Dawn but they're not totally clear on that. There's definitely design influence anyway) who was pulled back into the past by Arceus to help avert a disaster. You are found by the opposite gender protagonist (this one probably the actual ancestor of their D&P counterpart) and Professor Laventon, a Galarian researcher and ancestor of Leon and Hop of Sword & Shield. Basically, a good majority of the characters here are the ancestors of characters from the present day games, and take heavy design inspirations from them.
You are taken in by Laventon and Akari/Rei and taken to the Galaxy Expedition Team, a military corps surveying the area of Hisui in order to establish settlements there. The leader of the team is Kamado (ancestor of Professor Rowan), with six teams under him led by Cyllene (Cyrus), Zisu (Flint and Buck), Pesselle (Mira/Nurses), Tao Hua, Colza (Gardenia), and Sanqua (Karen). Another notable member is the cook/assassin Beni (Wally).
The native residents of Hisui are the Diamond and Pearl clans, two rival clans who war over the nature of their god Sinnoh (later revealed to be both Dialga and Palkia). The two clans leaders are Adaman and Irida, neither with any clear modern descendants at the time of release, though the Gen IX character Perrin bears certain design similarities from both. Do with that implication what you will. Across the five major regions of Hisui, both clans have a warden over it, one who will give you access to one of five riding Pokemon in the game, while the other will tell you about an alpha Pokemon gone rogue that acts as the region's boss. The Diamond wardens are Mai (Marley), Arezu (Mars), Iscan, Melli, and Sabi (Cheryl). The Pearl wardens are Lian (Clay), Calaba (possibly Mina, it's a little iffy), Palina, Ingo (the acual guy. He got Isekai'd too), and Gaeric (Wulfric).
Other major characters in the story are the Ginkgo Guild, a group of traveling merchants whose number include Volo and Ginter. Ginter is an ancestor of Volkner, and Volo's ancestry was intentionally obscured most of the game, with Volkner and Barry both being possibly candidates, but in the end, he turns out to be the true villain of the game, obsessed with Arceus and becoming its master, and is the ancestor of Cynthia, complete with a full matching team and theme song. He also introduces you to Cogita, also an ancestor of Cynthia, a mysterious wise woman who helps guide you in your journey. Last but not least, you regularly encounter a band of thieves, the Miss Fortune sisters: Charm (Bertha/maybe Agatha), Clover (Candice), and Coin (Saturn).
Major locations in the game include Jubilife Village, the Diamond Settlement, the Pearl Settlement, the Ancient Retreat, and the five warded areas being Obsidian Fieldlands, Crimson Mirelands, Cobalt Coastlands, Coronet Highlands, and Alabaster Icelands, with the Temple of Sinnoh at the very top of Mount Coronet.
I think that's about everything we need. Here's what we've got so far:
Characters:
All new Pokemon
Leah
Jamie/River: clone/semi-clone of Todd, with Illumina Orb in their moveset
Akari/Rei: gimmick rep for Legends: Arceus
Trainer System:
Victor
Gloria
Akari
Rei
Hop
Bede
Marnie
Professor Magnolia
Professor Laventon
Sonia
Ball Guy
Milo
Nessa
Kabu
Bea
Allister
Opal
Melony
Gordie
Piers
Raihan
Leon
Chairman Rose
Oleana
Swordward
Shieldbert
Mustard
Klara
Avery
Peony
Peonia
Kamado
Cyllene
Zisu
Beni
Adaman
Irida
Mai
Arezu
Iscan
Melli
Sabi
Lian
Calaba
Palina
Ingo
Gaeric
Volo
Ginter
Cogita
Charm
Clover
Coin
Stages:
Postwick
Wedgehurst
Motostoke
Turffield
Hulbury
Hammerlocke
Stow-on-Side
Ballonlea
Circhester
Spikemuth
Wyndon
Freezington
Isle of Armor
Slumbering Weald
Wild Zone
Galar Mine
Glimwood Tangle
Rose Tower
Dynamax Stadium
Smile-based stage? I don't know how that would even work really.
Pokemon Cafe
Florio Island
Belusylva Island
Maricopia Islands
Voluca Island
Durice Island
Aurus Island
Remoat Stadium
Auroma Stadium
Shivre City
Mer Stadium
Theia Sky Ruins
Jubilife Village
Diamond Settlement
Pearl Settlement
Ancient Retreat
Obsidian Fieldlands
Crimson Mirelands
Cobalt Coastlands
Coronet Highlands
Alabaster Icelands
Temple of Sinnoh
And that's about it! Now, let us go and cover all of the smaller games from this generation that I skipped over.
