Pokemon Legends: Arceus

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.