Fans are still on a high from Nintendo’s Christmas release ofPokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearl, but unlike the publisher’s remakes of classics,Pokemon Legends: Arceuswill push the franchise to a new frontier.
We previously discussed the game’sestimated play time, and now, we introduce you to the new region on offer, filled with wildlands, history, and new mechanics to become acquainted with.
Pokemon Legends: Arceuswill be set within an ancient expanse of the Sinnoh region, where your task will be to “survey, catch, and research the wild Pokemon of the long-gone era” and complete the Pokedex at hand with a handful of new mechanics to set this game apart from the classics.
Get to Know the New Region
Pokemon Legends: Arceusis set in the ancient Hisui region, which is an area that later developed into the Sinnoh region that we know fromPokemon Diamond,Pearl, andPlatinum.
Pokemon fansites, such asBulbapedia, state that the Hisui region derived its name from the Japanese word for ‘arcane,’ which correlates to Sinnoh’s meaning of ‘mysterious.’
Existing during a historical period before Generation IV, Hisui is made up of various locations of interest, including Mount Coronet, Obsidian Fieldlands, and Jubilife Village - the place where you will begin your adventure inPokemon Legends: Arceus.
Additionally, fansites also state that the Hisui region was designed after the real-life Japanese island of Hokkaidō, formally known as Ezo.
Image from Nintendo.
Hisui’s Technology
In addition to adding the aesthetic of a Pokemon game set in Japan’s mid-1800s, this historical region also integrates a more mechanical approach to Pokemon tech.
The Poke Balls ofPokemon Legends: Arceushave been an intriguing feature during the game’s promotion, sporting a more archaic design and running on what appears to be steam power.
This new chapter removes the glossy exterior of Poke Balls we’ve come to know and love and the narrative exists long before lasers and super-shrinking. Instead, Hisui Poke Balls are wooden and have gears to open and close the ball, complete with a puff of steam that releases the lock.
The First Reviews are In!
Many sources have already announced their scores forPokemon Legends: Arceus, when the embargo lifted yesterday, July 04, 2025, andMetacritichas already released the game’s initial, impressive 85 average.
Comicbook.comawarded the game a 10 out of 10 score for a title that is “easily the strongest Pokemon game made in recent memory.”
Dexertogave a 9 out of 10 score and was “blown away by how many lore-specific elements are tackled.”
Lastly,VG247gave the game four stars and spoke about its bold, fresh take on the franchise:
“It’s the 3D Pokemon adventure that I imagined back in the 90s that never came. It’s fresh. It feels new, exciting, and like a powerful new beginning for the series.”
