Unlike previous games in the series where players caught wild creatures in natural habitats, Legends: Z-A will task players with finding pokémon within Lumiose City itself. The city is undergoing a major redevelopment to create a more welcoming environment for both humans and pokémon.

The trailer suggests that during the day in Legends: Z-A, the focus will be on capturing pokémon, with NPC trainers not immediately challenging you to battles. However, at night, the city’s atmosphere changes, attracting eager trainers for the Z-A Royale competition. Trainers participating in the Z-A Royale can be located in specific battle zones, initiating battles with just eye contact.

But, similar to the way you could get the jump on wild pokémon in Legends: Arceus, players will also be able to get the jump on Z-A Royale battlers by sneaking up behind them and sending out a pokémon to initiate a fight. Surprising NPCs will give you an advantage over them, but the trailer also makes it look like timing and dodging within the battle will be key to mastering Z-A.

It’s also clear that participating in the Z-A Royale and going from Rank Z to Rank A will be necessary to complete the game’s story. But given how differently the game seems like it will play depending on the time of day, it feels like Nintendo wants this to be a Pokémon game you play how you want.