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I don't recall precisely when the custom started, but I always name all my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series title or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Glitch alternates from male to female characters, featuring black and purple hair. Occasionally their style is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in the enduring series (and one of the most style-conscious releases). At other moments they're confined to the assorted school uniform styles of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they're always Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokemon Games

Much like my characters, the Pokemon titles have evolved across installments, some superficial, others substantial. However at their heart, they stay identical; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless mechanics system approximately 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to evolve on it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Across every iteration, the core mechanics cycle of catching and battling alongside adorable monsters has stayed consistent for nearly as long as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and emphasis on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple changes into that formula. It takes place entirely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, ditching the expansive adventures of previous titles. Pokémon are meant to live together alongside humans, trainers and non-trainers alike, in ways we've only seen glimpses of before.

Even more drastic than that Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the franchise's near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its biggest transformation yet, replacing deliberate sequential bouts for something more chaotic. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, even as I find myself eager for another turn-based release. Although these changes to the classic Pokémon formula seem like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your created character had as a tourist are discarded; you're promptly enlisted by the female guide (for male avatars; the male guide if female) to become part of their squad of battlers. You're gifted a creature from them as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Royale is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement from earlier titles. However here, you fight several trainers to gain the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you'll be elevated to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of reaching rank A.

Live-Action Combat: A New Approach

Character fights take place at night, while navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is quite entertaining. I'm always trying to surprise an opponent and launch an unopposed move, since all actions occur in real time. Moves operate on recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent may occasionally strike simultaneously at the same time (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's much to get used to initially. Despite gaming for almost thirty hours, I still feel like there's plenty to learn regarding using my Pokémon's moves in methods that work together synergistically. Placement also factors as a significant part in battles since your creatures will follow you around or move to designated spots to perform attacks (some are long-range, while others need to be up close and personal).

The real-time action makes battles progress so quickly that I often repeating sequences through moves in the same order, even when this amounts to a less effective approach. There's no time to pause during Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on response after using an attack, and that information remains visible on screen in Z-A, but whips by quickly. Sometimes, you can't even read it because diverting attention from your adversary will result in immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose City

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I continue to find new shops and rooftops to visit. It is also full of charm, and perfectly captures the vision of Pokémon and people living together. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, flying away when you get near like the real-life city birds getting in my way while strolling through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures like Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on city living represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You may stumble upon an alley you never visited, but it feels identical. The architecture is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and underground routes offer little variety. Although I never visited Paris, the model behind the city, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a city where no two blocks are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has tan buildings topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

In which Lumiose City really shines, oddly enough, is indoors. I loved the way creature fights within Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, providing them genuine significance and importance. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet and Violet take place in a field with few spectators observing. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching as they dine. An elite combat club will invite you to a competition, and you will combat in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated base of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Various individual combat settings brim with character missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

Throughout the Royale, along with quelling rogue powered-up creatures and filling the creature index, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I