Trainers have finally been able to dive into Pokémon Legends: Z-A over the weekend, beginning to unravel the mysteries behind Lumiose City’s rogue Mega evolutions. However, many players have been left with a new question completely separate from the game’s main plot: Why is nearly everyone in Lumiose City having an existential crisis?
It’s not all citizens — some have just stood out for being extremely weird, like the Lumiose resident pondering what bodily fluids Water-type Pokémon use in battle, or another man on the street lamenting, “I’m sick and tired of this life. I just want to smell Pokémon!” That second one does still sound a lot like someone having one of the worst days of their life, but it’s mostly the smelling bit players have latched on to, launching a myriad of funny reactions.
However, the mind of the average Lumiosian is filled with much more dread, often venting about deep regrets, hidden hatreds, or questions about death. User TheJWittz put out an APB for players to send the most “unhinged” dialogue from characters, and they’re in no short supply.
I, too, began Pokémon Legends: Z-A over the weekend, and noticed the morbid tendencies of Lumiose City dwellers almost immediately. I decided to conduct my own investigation to find as many of them as I could, and while I was successful in my search, I was also left with more questions than answers about Lumiose and its residents. Not everyone was thinking about death — some simply dwelled on hidden feelings, jealousies, or judgments of others.
However, the most prevalent sentiments across all of Lumiose City had to do with loneliness and death. From citizens consumed by their own solitary existence to others wondering what will happen to their Pokémon when they die, the streets are indeed filled with people having existential crises.
It’s not all bad news for Lumioseans, though — there were a few bright spots of healthier thinking, at least in comparison with the rest of the population. Sure, they may be screaming from the rooftops or staring blankly over the water, but at the very least, there’s an overall air of coping mechanisms and acceptance.
What is it about Lumiose City that fills its citizens with such ennui? Does it have to do with the overall Mega energy crisis? Is the time period of Pokémon Legends: Z-A just full of futuristic dread? Or perhaps it’s just the mental health toll of life in the big city? Whatever the reason, the characters of Lumiose City are largely in crisis. Unfortunately for them, because of the stark contrast to the dialogue of past games, their predicament is unintentionally hilarious.
