Popular Twitch streamer and former Overwatch pro Felix “xQc” Lengyel has shared his thoughts about the upcoming Pokemon Legends Arceus, which will be hitting store shelves this week. While watching the overview trailer on stream, xQc revealed that he he has a positive impression about the game, but there may be one point of concern that could end up making PLA “boring.”

Pokemon Legends Arceus Gameplay Video

In the weeks leading up to its release, Pokemon Legends Arceus has no doubt been the talk of the town. In large part, all the chatter and intrigue can be attributed to the new mechanics that are set to shake up the Pokemon world. PLA, after all, does not follow the typical Pokemon adventure storyline, being an open-world RPG.

From what we've seen so far in the trailers (and through the leaks), the Hisui region boasts a vastly different landscape from what fans have grown used to in past generations—and it's not just the switch of camera angle or player perspective. Hisuian forms aside, Legends Arceus is introducing fresh mechanics to wild encounters, including Shiny and Noble Pokemon, as well as the battle system.

xQc welcomes fresh changes in Pokemon franchise

All these changes could be a good thing, xQc remarked as he watched the PLA trailer on his stream. “[The developers] took some of the qualities that worked to refresh the Zelda series, and they think it's going to help refresh the Pokemon series,” he explained.

His thoughts ring similar to some of the sentiments rippling through the community. Many fans are anxious about what Legends Arceus might mean for the Pokemon universe going forward. But at the same time, it's clear that a decade into the video game series, the franchise needed to change things up—whether to attract new players or keep the long-time fans just as invested. After all, complaints were already surfacing post-Gen V (or VI) that Pokemon was starting to feel like the same game over and over.

“I don't mind them trying something,” xQc commented. “It's the best thing they can do. What else are they going to do?”

One way to look at it may be to treat Legends Arceus as a separate entity from the Pokemon titles we've gotten used to. It borrows many of the same creatures and types, yet carries enough distinctions (like the Agile and Strong Style) to make it seem like a distinct or alternate universe. Ultimately, xQc is looking forward to seeing all these changes unfold when PLA drops.

xQc airs concerns about PLA gameplay design

However, xQc also pointed out one aspect that could “make or break” Legends Arceus (and future Pokemon releases of the same nature). For him, the main concern involves the storyline, with it possibly becoming too linear. Unless you've seen entire leaked playthroughs, fans may not yet know about how you're expected to progress through the game until completion.

Unlike past Pokemon titles where trainers have a clear goal of collecting gym badges and becoming the champion (and taking down some goons along the way), PLA's arc isn't about becoming the “very best like no one ever was” since it's an open-world game. It could end up becoming too “linear”, as xQc described, where it's not actually as exploratory as the wilderness suggests and it's just straightforward visiting one location to the next and completing missions. That, the streamer said, would make Legends Arceus “boring” to play.

“I hope they make it more freestyle. I think people will enjoy that,” xQc added.

Pokemon Legends Arceus will be released for the Nintendo Switch platform on January 28, 2022. Until then, fans can secure a couple of preorder bonuses and also prepare themselves for what the upcoming open-world RPG has to offer—from new Hisuian forms and Frenzied Noble Pokemon to space-time distortions and intriguing sidequests.