Compare Kingdom Come: Deliverance II vs Pokémon Legends: Z-A

AI and NPC behavior were praised for believable reactions, routines, crime responses, and increased sophistication over the first game.

AI behavior drew harsh criticism in one review for pathfinding and battle behavior problems.

Reviewers consistently praised the reactive crime, reputation, NPC, and quest systems that made the world feel alive and responsive.

World interactivity was often criticized because much of Lumiose cannot be entered or meaningfully interacted with beyond traversal and menus.

Checkpointing was criticized for causing lost progress when autosaves appeared only at limited quest points.

The checkpoint system was praised for letting players retain damage dealt in Rogue Mega fights without penalty.

Environmental detail was praised for dense, specific objects, puddles, tools, farms, residences, and believable spaces.

Environmental detail was a common concern because Lumiose often appeared flat, repetitive, bland, or under-detailed.

Mission variety was strongly praised, especially for quests that went beyond simple errands or bandit-clearing objectives.

Mission variety suffered for some reviewers due to a lack of environmental variety and repeated structures.

The adaptive HUD was praised for hiding unnecessary elements and improving immersion when information was not relevant.

HUD clarity was criticized because battle information and feedback could move too fast or be hard to read.

Family friendliness was limited by repeated profanity, sexual content, and depictions of women that one reviewer found objectifying.

Family friendliness evidence was positive where the game was described as accessible to players of all ages without talking down to them.

Graphics were broadly praised for impressive landscapes, cutscenes, lighting, and major visual improvements over the first game.

Graphics quality was heavily mixed: several reviewers criticized flat, dated visuals, while others called the Switch 2 presentation solid or improved.

Load times were criticized by one reviewer as long enough to worsen stealth retries and experimentation.

Load times were praised as fast or snappy in the reviews that mentioned them.

One reviewer felt early traversal was unnecessarily taxing, especially before stronger equipment and better mobility options eased the burden.

Movement and traversal earned praise when tied to verticality, dodging, and rooftops, but weaker reactions appeared when platforming replaced broader travel options.

Reviewers admired the freedom to solve problems, exploit systems, and role-play, though the sandbox sometimes clashed with scripted story demands.

Sandbox freedom felt limited to some reviewers because the single-city structure restricted the broader roaming fantasy.

The visual style of menus, maps, and medieval presentation received praise for matching the game’s historical tone.

Art direction was mixed, with praise for character designs and criticism for uneven or weak Mega designs.

Cutscene direction and mocap were praised for selling relationships and emotional scenes convincingly.

Animation quality ranged from major criticism of lifeless NPCs to praise for improved or well-animated cutscenes.

Writing was described as excellent, engaging, humorous, and consistently strong across main and side content.

Writing quality split reviewers: some found the writing stronger than usual, while one negative review called the script poor.

Reviewers saw the sequel as much more polished than the first game, with rough edges reduced and systems better realized.

Polish was mixed: some reviewers saw a tighter, improved Pokémon game, while others called combat or presentation unpolished.

Reviewers praised the breadth of activities, quests, and post-launch additions, with many describing a large and varied set of things to do.

Content variety was mixed: reviewers cited many quests and systems, but also samey city spaces, repeated battles, and limited activity variety.

Fast travel opinions were mixed: one reviewer praised dynamic events, while another found it cumbersome and interruption-prone.

Fast travel convenience was praised because ample fast-travel points made mission-focused play easier.

The game was not seen as a pure grind, but reviewers still emphasized the effort and repetition needed to gain traction.

Grind level was a recurring concern, with some reviewers finding battles, maps, or wild-Pokémon work repetitive despite occasional strategic payoff.

The dog companion Mutt was praised as useful and worthwhile, especially for tracking and early side-quest benefits.

Companion AI was mixed: one reviewer loved Pokémon following along, while another criticized ally behavior in battle.

Progression was widely praised for turning early friction into rewarding growth through skills, perks, equipment, and player learning.

Progression through the Z-A Royale was enjoyable for some, but rank skipping and façade-like structure disappointed several reviewers.

Henry and Hans received strong praise for their evolving relationship and character arcs, with Henry’s trauma and growth adding stakes.

Character development was praised by some for expressive, colorful, and more developed characters, but others found the cast flat.

Dialogue was mostly praised for impact, humor, and organic choices, though one reviewer found some repeated dialogue drawn out.

Dialogue quality ranged from funny and lively NPC chatter to generic or false-choice complaints.

Atmosphere was praised alongside world-building, especially in cities, music, and historically grounded locations.

Atmosphere split reviewers between Lumiose charm and magic versus a lifeless or empty-feeling city.

Ranged play was viewed as improved by some reviewers, especially archery, but another found ranged combat weightless and weak.

Aiming and targeting drew complaints when lock-on, line of sight, or capture selection made hits and throws harder to control.

The cast was praised for memorable personalities, humor, and a strong sense of history.

The roster was mixed: reviewers liked favorites and Mega options but noted a thin Pokédex or restricted team choices.

Onboarding divided reviewers: returning and new-player recaps helped, but some found the opening overloaded or blunt.

Onboarding drew repeated criticism for slow or restrictive openings, though a few found the tutorial quicker or integrated well enough.

Camera behavior was a noted issue for one reviewer, especially through finicky first-person viewpoint problems.

Camera behavior received negative evidence from a review that said the camera struggled during busy combat.

Narrative quality was a major strength, with reviewers praising the historical saga, main quest, character arcs, and cinematic ambition.

Narrative quality was broadly praised for mature themes and civic ideas, though some reviewers called it flat, underexplored, or not groundbreaking.

Exploration was praised for beautiful spaces, meaningful discoveries, and a strong adventuring feel, though harsh systems made some travel demanding.

Exploration was one of the most split attributes, praised for rooftop discoveries and rare Pokémon, but criticized for samey, restricted spaces.

One reviewer found the loop rewarding but volatile, with strong highs offset by repeated frustration and setbacks.

The core loop was often described as fun, breezy, and addictive, but some reviewers found catching pressure or repetition less satisfying.

The historical codex and contextual detail were praised for offering extensive background on people, events, and society.

Lore depth was praised when reviews connected Z-A to X/Y, Sinnoh-style mythology, or franchise history.

The revised perk and upgrade system was praised for offering meaningful upside-focused choices rather than weak side-grades.

Upgrade and Mega-related systems were praised when Mega Evolution felt improved, but some reviewers reduced it to a stat boost button.

Several reviewers found the game highly entertaining, addictive, and rewarding once its demanding systems clicked.

Fun factor was broadly positive across many reviews, even when they attached caveats about repetition, visuals, or value.

The sequel was credited with giving supporting women and other groups somewhat more agency than before.

Side character depth was generally positive in the scored reviews, with Team MZ and supporting characters described as likable or among the series' best.

Reviewers repeatedly emphasized how unusual and specific the game feels compared with modern RPGs.

Originality was supported by praise for the game's strong proof-of-concept feel and fresh Legends identity.

Stealth was useful and sometimes satisfying, yet reviewers also called it finicky, weak, or frustrating in specific forced sections.

Stealth was divisive: some liked ambushes and surprise attacks, while others found the system unreliable, shallow, or lazy.

Facial animation feedback was mixed: one reviewer noted lifeless dialogue faces, while another praised key character animations.

Facial animations received positive evidence when characters were described as more expressive than before.

Visual set pieces and in-engine scenes were praised for creating striking emotional moments.

Visual effects quality had limited positive evidence, focused on HDR vibrancy and color pop.

Crash stability was praised by multiple reviewers who reported no crashes, no soft locks, or no hard crashes.

Crash stability was praised by one reviewer who recalled no crashes across a long playthrough.

Reviewers generally agreed the sequel stays true to the original while improving its systems, scope, and accessibility.

Faithfulness to franchise stayed positive because reviewers still saw Z-A as recognizably Pokémon and appealing to long-time fans.

The learning curve was repeatedly described as steep, slow, and friction-heavy, rewarding patience but likely turning some players away.

The learning curve was noticeable because movement, battle positioning, and strategy took time to internalize.

Immersion was one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers repeatedly describing the world, systems, and presentation as absorbing.

Immersion was praised when battles felt like the anime or boss fights engaged the player, but voice and UI issues could undercut it elsewhere.

Handheld suitability was supported by one reviewer who described the game as scalable enough for handheld play.

Handheld play suitability was positive in the reviews that tested handheld play, especially on Switch 2.

Combat drew broad attention for its realism, skill focus, and improvements, though several reviewers still found it harsh, clunky, or frustrating early on.

Real-time combat was the dominant positive, widely praised as fresh and exciting, though a few reviewers called it clunky, spammy, or poorly refined.

One reviewer reported a consistent frame rate and treated that as part of the game’s stronger technical state.

Frame rate stability was consistently positive in Switch 2 evidence, with repeated praise for smooth 60 fps or stable performance.

Reviewers repeatedly framed the systems-heavy design as a major strength, praising how mechanics connect to role-playing, dialogue, world simulation, and player expression.

Reviewers praised the broader mechanics for making Pokémon management and move choices feel fresh, though some noted jank around execution.

One reviewer praised the scale of improvement as something other studios rarely achieve.

Innovation was widely praised for taking risks, evolving the formula, and experimenting with real-time combat and city structure.

Tutorial quality was mixed, with one reviewer calling it decent while others criticized dense text screens and poor explanations.

Tutorial quality was acknowledged as necessary for the new systems, though one reviewer wished it could be skipped.

Pacing opinions varied: some praised the sustained momentum, while others complained about indulgent cutscenes or late-game pacing issues.

Pacing ranged from tight and breezy to repetitive or slow, depending on whether reviewers focused on the start, Royale loop, or full campaign.

Difficulty was often called demanding and unforgiving; reviewers generally treated this as part of the appeal, though not always an easy one.

Difficulty balance was uneven: Rogue Mega fights and late battles could challenge, while standard trainers were often called trivial or easy.

Reviewers described the story as memorable and emotionally powerful, including scenes that brought strong lasting reactions.

Emotional impact was supported by one strong reaction to Lumiose citizens uniting around their city.

Bugs were present but usually minor; reviewers ranged from calling glitches common to saying issues rarely disrupted play.

Bug frequency evidence was mostly positive for stability, though reviewers acknowledged some glitches or attack/collision issues.

Value was praised because the game is both strong and very long, with some reviewers reporting enormous playtime.

Value for money was mixed to negative, especially in reviews objecting to the price, DLC, or premium positioning.

The post-launch expansions were credited with adding a large amount of extra content to the package.

DLC value was mostly criticized, from pre-order frustration to a later DLC review calling much of Mega Dimension empty calories.

Replay value looked strong thanks to hardcore mode, major content additions, and reviewers wanting to return for more playthroughs.

Replay value was supported by continued play, completionist goals, and dozens of possible hours, especially for fans of the loop.

Voice acting was broadly praised, especially the main cast, though some reviewers noted repeated or uneven minor NPC voices.

Voice acting was one of the clearest negatives, with reviewers repeatedly saying silent dramatic scenes hurt presentation and immersion.

Controls were described as noticeably smoother than the first game, especially in camera feel, aiming, and sword fighting responsiveness.

Control feedback was mixed, with praise for active movement but complaints about lock-on, obstacles, hand strain, and positioning bugs.

One reviewer warned that excessive profanity and potentially offensive material make the game unsuitable for some audiences.

Age appropriateness was positive overall but tempered by one review warning that some harder fights might challenge younger players.

UI feedback was positive when reviewers discussed improved, adaptable, or visually polished interface presentation.

User interface design drew criticism where feedback during combat was hard to parse.

The open world drew strong praise for its scale, density, historically grounded cities, and lived-in regions across multiple maps.

Open-world design was mixed to negative, with some appreciating a dense city focus while others disliked the single-location limits.

Maps were praised for medieval flair and exquisite town art, supporting the game’s historical presentation.

Map and navigation design drew criticism when map zoom or Pokédex location guidance made places and Pokémon harder to find.

Quest design was one of the strongest points, with reviewers praising memorable side stories, branching approaches, and strong writing, despite a few disappointing payoffs.

Quest design was mixed: many reviewers liked silly or worthwhile side quests, while others found battle and fetch quests basic or uneven.

Main mission design was mixed: reviewers praised varied scenarios, but one criticized a required sequence for lacking an alternate path.

Mission design evidence praised the range of stakes and activities, especially when missions kept the adventure moving.

World-building was repeatedly praised as immersive, historically grounded, and central to the game’s appeal.

World-building was a strength for many reviewers, especially around Lumiose's civic tensions, coexistence themes, and wider Pokémon-world implications.

Sound design was praised for supporting immersion and helping players identify attacks or stealth-relevant cues.

Sound design earned strong praise for Pokémon-specific footsteps, cries, and small audio details.

One reviewer praised the way locations were recontextualized into memorable set-pieces that rewarded planning and awareness.

Level design was praised when interiors, rooftops, and compact city layouts felt purposeful, even as repeated streets limited variety.

The soundtrack was one of the most consistently praised elements, with several reviewers calling it orchestral, phenomenal, or legendary.

Soundtrack quality was mixed to positive: some praised strong music, while others noted limited variety or frantic tracks.

Performance was generally praised across PC and console contexts, with reviewers noting strong optimization and technical improvements.

Performance optimization was usually praised, especially on Switch 2, though a few reviews treated merely stable performance as modest.

Battle mode quality was positive in multiplayer and Royale evidence, especially when matches or nightly Battle Zones stayed engaging.

Competitive balance had limited evidence, with one reviewer seeing potential if tweaks were made.

Crafting split reviewers: blacksmithing and alchemy could be charming and rewarding, but several found parts clunky, slow, or repetitive.

The early economy was described as restrictive, especially when selling damaged or stolen goods with limited vendor money.

Endgame content was treated positively when reviewers cited post-game zones, quests, or a substantial base-game activity list.

Enemy variety received positive evidence when opponents felt less one-note than traditional type-specialist teams.

DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers were praised for reflecting stamina, sword clashes, and sharpening interactions.

A horror-leaning quest was criticized for being too short for its dread to fully develop.

Loot was criticized for early encumbrance pressure and the difficulty of carrying everything a player might want.

Monetization fairness drew strong criticism from a negative review calling the package exploitative.

Online stability and online play evidence was limited but generally positive or practical, though trading requirements were a caveat.

Platforming was generally treated as a weak spot: half-baked, awkward, or annoying, despite some rooftop puzzle utility.

Reviewers liked the depth and usefulness of perks, weapon techniques, and skill trees, especially when they enabled meaningful playstyle specialization.

Weapon balance was mixed: one reviewer liked weapon choice, while another found some ranged options hard to use effectively.

Boss design was strongly praised through Rogue Mega battles, which reviewers called fun, intense, paced well, or a strong direction.

Multiplayer design received positive evidence after a patch made battle rewards more directly useful.

Puzzle evidence centered on rooftop route-finding, which one reviewer found meaningfully puzzle-like within Lumiose traversal.

Reviewers repeatedly praised trainer fashion and character customization as stylish, broad, and fun to use.

Menu usability was mixed to negative, with some praise for navigation but others calling the menu system dire or frustrating.

One reviewer strongly disliked Hans as a long-term companion presence, creating strain on their desire to continue.

Post-launch support was described positively through free updates, fixes, and eagerly awaited features.

The PS5 Pro version was praised as a graphical treat, with platform-specific technical strengths noted.

The save system was one of the most divisive topics, praised by one reviewer but criticized by many as stingy or punishing.