Let's Play Pokemon Legends Z-A, Part 16: I'm Gonna Swing / From A Chandelier

So last time we left off, we did a ton of side-quests. But now we're off to do more of the Z-A Royale. I go to the Fists of Justice dojo, and I meet with Josée again, the martial arts student I beat up before in front of Wild Zone 2. Josée is shocked that I, with my protagonist powers, have shot up from Rank Y to Rank E or wherever I'm at, but she wants to fight me before she tells me where Ivor is. Josée... has a Machoke and a Medicham. I have a Malamar and a Mega Slowbro. After beating her up, Josée mutters and wonders if Team MZ has its own dojo with harsh training... but honestly, considering the Fists of Justice trains their humans instead of the Pokemon. Josée briefly talks about how she's going to providing the service of using Seeds of Mastery to turn moves into plus moves, but to be honest I genuinely don't know why I would do that. If I don't use Megas, I guess? 

Turns out that Ivor has being going around looking for his missing sister Gwynn, and right on cue Ivor bursts in and starts abusing the text size and yelling "GWYNNNNN!!!" several times. Yep, Ivor is that kind of anime character, the trope of the complete and utter meathead who yells a lot and hams stuff up. I have to say that these sorts of characters are only really ever funny for me personally when you have either a great voice actor, or really exaggerated expressions. The Pokemon games aren't really able to do that. So at least for the first half of this quest, I found Ivor a bit insufferable. 

Ivor sees me and asks if I was there to join the Fists of Justice, and I immediately say 'absolutely not'. Ivor apparently doesn't even have a Rotom Phone, and the only way for him to verify any of that is if we find Gwynn. Turns out that Ivor is such a strong man that all Rotom Phones he touches breaks if he presses them. Rotom Phones are sentient beings, Ivor, what the hell! I know Rotoms are ghosts and all, but they probably felt pain! 

Ivor says that he'll only fight me once he's sure that his sister is out of trouble, and he runs off yelling Gwynn's name again. Josée directs me to go to a detective agency, and I go there to find Ivor begging Emma to find Gwynn. Ivor, of course, is a complete moron and misunderstands Emma's requests to ask him for information to help find Gwynn. At least we've got Emma! Sadly, Emma can't immediately resolve this for us. Her partner Mimi is a bit tired and tuckered out (we get an animation for that, aww Mimi!) so she can't use her Psychic powers to locate Gwynn. Ivor explains that Gwynn's hobbies is 'going to city hall', which Emma lampshades as something... unconventional. 

So off to city hall we go! There is a running gag (heh) of Ivor just running off every time there is a slightest hint of a clue, which I won't repeat in describing. 

We reach Town Hall and Ivor is upset that we don't immediately find Gwynn. Emma and I go around and talk to the surrounding NPCs, a lot of them with dialogue bubbles that are misleading (like "I've found her!") before being a false alarm ("...my friend online!"). Finally we get a clue that says that Gwynn often goes to Centrico Plaza after visiting the Town Hall, so off we go. 

We go to the food truck run by totally not Team Flare, and the lady with the fancy hair talks with Emma. She reveals that Gwynn was just there with the 'DYN4MO Girl'... and I have the option to answer that maybe it's Tarragon. Hey, I'm not wrong! I am virtually right! In a bit of a dick move, I just immediately tell Emma that my recent promotion match against Canari took place in Racine Construction. We are ready to go...  and the Nouveau staff bemoan the fact that they actually already got Emma's coffee started. Emma Naruto-dashes away, and we get a *beat* shot of the barista just holding the coffee pot before he deflates. That's cute.

In Racine Construction, Ivor is confronting Canari, demanding where Gwynn is. Canari, a popular streamer, is rightfully not very pleased that I went around telling people where she is. Doxxing isn't good, kids! Canari is rightfully angry, and Emma has to apologize on Ivor's insane behalf. Canari calls Gwynn 'G-Volt', and brushes off Ivor's insistent, single-minded demands. I really do like the scene where Ivor goes all 'my refusal to back down is proof of how worried I am about Gwynn', while Canari gets super-angry at Ivor that if he really cared, he should pay more attention to what Gwynn gets up to. 

Canari briefly calls me a 'new Canatic', and wants a rematch for her previous loss. That's cool! Canari's team hasn't changed -- still Heliolisk, Ampharos, Stunfisk and Mega Eelektross -- but her moves have! Most notably is that her Stunfisk runs Stealth Rock (which I severely underestimated) and her Mega Eelektross knows Fire Punch now, which takes out my Mega Meganium! I still win, but Canari managed to take out three of my Pokemon (Meganium, and the admittedly weak-to-Electric Greninja and Slowbro) in the process. That's not bad!

Canari does another bout of wingdings cursing, before calming down and telling us that she and G-Volt go way back, and they like to hang together and play games and stuff. Canari notes that Gwynn has been looking for a spot that could only be hers, like a hideout where "the X, Y and Z axes don't meet up". Typical gothic poetry! Gwynn is apparently training to beat a Pokemon that her partner's type is weak to, and Canari finally gives us a clue -- a fountain that depicts such a Pokemon. 

Ivor tells us that Gwynn's partner is a Chandelure (!!! best lamp child !!!) and Canari gives a list of potential fountains that I can pick. The answer, of course, is a Clawitzer fountain. Ivor runs off, yelling that he's going to catch a Clawitzer because that's where Gwynn is. I would love to see him fight the Alpha Clawitzer in one of the Wild Zones. Emma runs after Ivor, yelling that it's a fountain... while Canari does what the audience probably realizes already -- Gwynn probably just wants some alone time. I totally get it. 

We get to a Clawitzer fountain, and of course, there is no Gwynn there. Emma mutters and thinks of the riddle Canari gives us. Emma's logic... isn't very sound, but she notes that our X-axis is correct, and we just need to adjust our Y and Z axes. I... okay? Your argument is full of holes, Emma, but you're much more pleasant than Ivor, so I will pretend what you said is super logical. Emma notes that we need to go to the sewers, which elicits a huge 'yes' from me. In video games, sewer levels are cool!

Emma gives me some options to deal with the flowing water that's covering the sewers. Vaporizing it doesn't work since we would need flames from a legendary Pokemon. Ivor is willing to try drinking all the water, but Emma stops him before the idiot does something dangerous. Ivor also tries to destroy the fountain, and is about to summon his Falinks -- until Emma stops him from destroying public property. Emma instructs me to find a Pokemon with Ice Beam. My Slowbro knows Ice Beam! I freeze the fountain solid, which causes the water of the canals below it to drain out. 

And this unlocks... a dungeon! Wow! Okay, I didn't expect this, and I must admit that I thought all we're going to get are just more and more parts of the city that is altered as the game goes on. This is very preferable, the city is nice but it's admittedly getting stale. The dungeon is very nicely shaded, and we even have a nice little map. It's not super extensively long, but there's quite a bit here. 

I have fun exploring the sewers and meeting more of the Pokemon here. I'm getting a bit of Elden Ring flashbacks, since I also did the underground sewers level under Leyndell in that game not too long ago. The sewers are populated with some appropriate Pokemon. Some rats like Patrat and Scraggy are around, the Noibats flutter down and try to bite me, and some Skrelp and Inkay hang out where the flowing waters are. More importantly, and appropriate thanks to Gwynn's signature Pokemon, Litwicks are here. 

And... I'm sorry, Aegislash, but with Gwynn's signature Pokemon being a Chandelure, I can predict what's going to happen. Your stance change animations are really bad in this game as well, so I'll have to retire you for my other different fully-evolved Ghost-type. I quickly raise up Litwick to a Lampent and then Dusk Stone him into a Chandelure! That's going to be a permanent member of my party. 

Halfway across the sewers is a giant locked gate. Ivor, of course, wants to punch it. Emma stops him from destroying public property. My investigations on the lock  reward nothing... and then a Klefki floats by. We run after the Klefki and corner it at the end of a corridor. Emma tells us to catch it. Ivor gets excited, and takes a pose, saying that his Poke Balls reach speeds of 100 miles an hour, and sure, sometimes the Pokemon are knocked out instead of being caught, but that's okay with him? This man is a menace! A menace I say! Emma is horrified, and says that punching Pokemon is something that even ancient Hisuians wouldn't do. 

I get into a battle with Klefki, and like a civilized person, I knock it out with a Flamethrower from my soul-reaping ghost chandelier. Totally much more humane than chucking a ball with brute strength, hmm hmm! 

We bring Klefki to the lock... and Klefki jangles its keys at the lock... and none of its keys work! Klefki gives a sad expression. Ivor decides to try out his plan. This is probably the part of the game where he does make sense -- there is no guarantee that the key is in this sewers. Therefore, since we cannot obtain the key we need, we must let him BECOME the key. Okay, that's kind of funny. With a yell of 'Justice Punch', Ivor punches and the metal doors go flying. 

As we progress, we see Gwynn's Chandelure move past... into a dead end room. Investigating all the strange abandoned sewer panels and boxes in the room leads to nothing. Ivor gets impatient, starts yelling "Strength is Power! Strength is Justice! Justice Punch!" and punches a brick wall! Except that wall isn't actually a wall, it's an illusion, and Ivor's fist kind of glorps through it. Emma walks through the wall, and reveals that this is just an illusion, likely caused by a Ghost-type. 

We follow the Chandelure back to the end of the sewers, where of course Gwynn is waiting. Ivor rushes in yelling with all his hammy attitude, and Ivor demands to know where the villain is. Emma asks if I've figured out who the culprit is, and of course, there's no real culprit -- Gwynn is just hiding in her little hidey-hole to get away from the overbearing Ivor.

Gwynn is all quiet as Ivor demands answers, and says that she'll only talk if she's beaten in a Pokemon battle. Now, logically and narratively speaking, Ivor would be the one fighting her... but of course, being the protagonist of the game, I fight Gwynn. 

Gwynn actually does the stupid 'Strength is power, strength is justice' pose before fighting, which I do find adorable -- she doesn't mind the Fists of Justice philosophy, she is just pissed at her brother being a dingus. Of course, Gwynn is a woman of culture and her team is all Ghost-types. Her first fighter is a Banette, which I fight with my own Chandelure. Ghost vs Ghost! Her next Pokemon is a Gourgeist, which Malamar also beats down but not before suffering some damage from 'Trick or Treat', which summons Halloween pumpkins as its animation. 

And Gwynn's final Pokemon, of course, is a Chandelure. She does the pose, then points her fingers on the key stone on her Chandelure hat... and Mega Chandelure enters the stage!

...it's a Chandelure as a far more elaborate chandelier, with a lot more... I don't know how to say them, but a lot more of those candle-holders. A little dangly jewel hangs below, and Mega Chandelure's also got a little king's crown. 

You know what? You know what, as a massive Chandelure fan, I actually like this. I like this a whole lot. This keeps a lot of the spirit of the original Chandelure while also making it a bit more over-the-top. A lot of the newer Mega Evolutions in Z-A hasn't been clicking with me, but I really like Mega Chandelure!

I summon my own mega, Mega Slowbro, because I had the mentality of 'Water beats Fire'. Unfortunately, Ghost also beats Psychic, so both our megas have a form of advantage against each other. Mega Chandelure wins, though, using a Protect against my Slowbor's surf, before rapid-firing a Fire Spin trap, and a Shadow Ball. Mega Chandelure then wreaks havoc, sweeping my Scolipede, my Meganium, and my own Chandelure until Malamar finally comes out. The sweeping went so long that the Mega Chandelure actually runs out of energy and reverts to a regular Chandelure, which gets taken down by Malamar. 

Congratulations, Gwynn, you might be the toughest challenge in this game yet that isn't a Rogue Mega attacking my trainer. I love that. I love that this feels like a "beat the boss to gain the power of the boss". 

Gwynn then explains what's going on, and starts laying into Ivor. He breaks smartphones. He doesn't respect the rules of the Z-A royale. His excessive training causes noise complaints. Gwynn has to keep covering for Ivor's bullshit, going to the town hall wasn't actually her hobby, it's her making amends and apologies for the Fists of Justice. And this sewer? This sewer is her 'me time', her little hideout, a way for her to get some privacy while also denying Ivor the chance to cause more havoc if he gets promoted in the Z-A Royale. 

Ivor is shocked that he is causing his sister so much trouble... and Gwynn looks at me and tells me to give Ivor a good trashing in the upcoming promotion match. Okay! 

With zero self-awareness, Ivor runs off, getting ready to prepare for his bout. Oh, we were so close at getting biceps-for-brains some actual self-awareness. Emma apologizes to Gwynn, but then praises her for the great barriers and illusions Gwynn puts up. Gwynn gives a bit of her backstory, saying that she found the place when she was young, and the Ghost-types all liked her. It is a bit of a shame that her little hiding spot is now found by Ivor.

And it's time for a beatdown. No real bullshit, and Ivor just waits for me at the Justice Dojo. Ivor goes on for a bit about his goal to break down the barriers between humans and Pokemon, and he'll reach that with strength. Yeah, fuck you, Ivor, when you didn't even realize that your emotional brute-forcing is what caused Gwynn to feel so suffocated with you. And I'm really not sure how even more violence is going to bring harmony to Pokemon and Humans. 

I tell Ivor's smug, deluded face that he's going to be an opponent I climb over to reach glory, and then he does his pose and we fight. Ivor runs a team of all Fighting-types. I have a Fairy and two Psychic-types. This isn't going to be fair. His first Pokemon? Heracross. My Slowbro just Psychics it out. Machamp? Psychic, again. Medicham? Malamar Night Slashes it out. Easy, easy. 

Ivor's final Pokemon is Falinks, which isn't a surprise since he's got the colours and a little bag painted up to look like Falinks. Ivor then mega evolves, which I am curious... and Mega Falinks is... Mega Falinks is FUNNY AS SHIT. I love it. The central Falinks head has transformed into a giant head-and-torso, three Falinks act as the abdomen and legs, and two other Falinks have morphed into a lance and a shield. The one holding up the big head looks like he's in pain!

I fight the goofy Mega Falinks with one of my own, Mega Slowbro, and take it out quickly with a Psychic and a Psyshock. "Defeat... how incredibly unjust!" No, what's an injustice is your stupid hair, Ivor. 

I go to rank D, and Ivor is a bit sad. Gwynn gives Ivor a bit of a talking-to, especially telling him not to battle in the Royale after daybreak, and starts telling him how much he is vexing everyone around her. Ivor then seems to have a bit of an epiphany, and asks Gwynn to coach him... and instead of the kumbaya everyone-is-happy ending, Gwynn gives a flat no. She tells Ivor to stop being a child, start acting like the master of the dojo that he's supposed to be, and stop making others take care of his messes. Yeah, you tell him! Gwynn then goes off with Ivor in tow, promising to give him more of a talk once they get home. 

As I return to Hotel Z, the other members react to the story. Taunie makes a little crack about hearing about 'X and Y' a long time ago... come on, girl, it's just a decade, it's not that old! It's not just a mythology gag, though, and Taunie mutters about how there was something someone said about how X, Y and Z are in different directions but it's important that they meet at some point. Lida takes it as something that this group of friends, or humans and Pokemon, can all learn from as there is a meeting point at some point. Okay, then. 

But the Gwynn and Ivor stuff? That's fun. That's really fun. 

The game doesn't go super in-depth into it, but I do like this story trope. Ivor genuinely does love Gwynn as his sister, but is a bit myopic and doesn't actually pay attention to what she does, and what her frustrations are. I kind of wished that Ivor got a bit more punished for his actions, but hey, baby steps for Pokemon, I suppose. Again, Ivor showing concern for his sister? Sweet. What a brother should do. The smothering, the lack of self-awareness, the lack of privacy? Not so sweet. 

I actually really enjoyed this part of the story, Ivor notwithstanding. Gwynn and Emma are fun, the sewer dungeon was great, and I did enjoy some of Ivor's overacting. The game honestly kind of lost me a bit with the Naveen/Canari stuff, and while the new designs were fun it wasn't particularly engaging story-wise, you know? 

Random Notes:

• I still haven't completed the game yet to do the Diancie event, but now there's a Mega Mewtwo event to coincide with the upcoming release of the Legends Z-A DLC. I'm only halfway through the game, slow down, dog!
  
• I'm still playing/writing at my own pace. Obviously the actual playthrough is slightly ahead of the rate that I'm releasing these writeups, but not by that much. I'm not rushing; I'm going to play through the game by my own pace.
• (Consider this, also, by the way, a big 'fuck you' from me to the time-gated, season-based nonsense with the Mega Kalos starter stones. It's already scummy enough to lock them not just behind a DLC but a completely different monetization model, but the fact that it's taking time for me to even find time to play the game makes it feel extra scummy.)
• I discovered how cool Future Sight is in this game. Instead of a rather bland 'Psychic, but delayed', Future Sight has the Pokemon designate a location, and several seconds later psychic meteors rain down from the skies above that place. That's so cool!
  
• I did the little battle course quest in Restaurant Le Yeah, which is a five-course meal, er, continuous battle. That alone isn't anything too special, but the twist is that you're not healed between fights!
• In the Fists of Justice base is an adorable martial arts log-wood thing that you see in kung-fu movies, but it's painted up to look like a Trevenant. This is cute as all heck. 
• There is also a little Lampent hanging lamp and a Pumpkaboo street light in the dojo, which I'm assuming are all of Gwynn's doing. 
• Wait, if Gwynn is actually good IRL friends with Canari... she actually lost the Canari quiz! Didn't even make it to the final round! Some friend! 
• Among Canari's choices is a Heatmor fountain. There are no Heatmor fountains in Lumiose City, and in fact, I don't think Heatmor is even in this game. 
• I have actually ran a Klefki in my Pokemon Y team, but just like Aegislash's Stance Change, I'm not sure if Klefki's more status-move-oriented moveset will be actually useful in this game engine.
• After the Ivor mission, Emma mutters that she should train a bit. She also mentions her Expansion Suit, which could help her physical abilities... but she also doesn't want to rely on it. Hey, hopefully we get to see her super-spy suit in action!