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I don't recall precisely when the tradition started, however I always name every one of my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Be it a main series title or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Malfunction alternates from male to female characters, with black and purple locks. Sometimes their style is impeccable, like 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 various academic attire styles of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they're always Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Games

Similar to my characters, the Pokémon games have evolved between installments, some cosmetic, others substantial. But at their heart, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. The developers discovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula some three decades back, and has only truly attempted to evolve on it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Across every iteration, the fundamental gameplay loop of catching and battling alongside charming creatures has stayed steady for almost the same duration as I've been alive.

Shaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and focus on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes to that formula. It takes place entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning journeys of previous games. Pokémon are intended to live together alongside people, trainers and non-trainers alike, in ways we've only glimpsed previously.

Far more drastic is Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. This is where the series' almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its most significant evolution yet, swapping deliberate sequential fights with more frenetic action. And it is immensely fun, despite I find myself eager for another traditional release. Though these alterations to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

Upon first arriving in Lumiose City, any intentions your custom avatar planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're immediately enlisted by Taunie (for male avatars; the male guide if female) to become part of their squad of trainers. You're gifted a creature from them as your starter and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Championship is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" progression from earlier titles. But here, you fight several opponents to gain the opportunity to participate in a promotion match. Win and you'll be elevated to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of achieving rank A.

Real-Time Battles: A New Approach

Trainer battles occur at night, while navigating stealthily the assigned combat areas is very enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to get a jump on an opponent and unleash a free attack, because all actions occur in real time. Attacks function with cooldown timers, indicating both combatants may occasionally strike simultaneously at the same time (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's a lot to adjust to initially. Even after playing for nearly thirty hours, I still feel that there is much to master regarding using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a major role during combat as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to designated spots to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, whereas others must be up close and personal).

The real-time action causes fights go so fast that I often sometimes cycling through moves in the same order, even when this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to pause during Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles depend on response post-move execution, and that data remains visible on screen within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it because taking your eyes off your adversary will spell certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, although tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering unseen stores and rooftops to visit. It's also rich with character, and perfectly captures the concept of creatures and humans coexisting. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, flying away when you get near similar to actual city birds getting in my way when walking through NYC. The monkey trio joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures such as Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on city living is a new direction for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote eventually. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The building design is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and underground routes provide minimal diversity. While I never visited Paris, the inspiration for Lumiose, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where no two blocks differs, and all are alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It has beige structures with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Really Excels

In which Lumiose City truly stands out, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I adored the way creature fights within Sword and Shield occur in football-like stadiums, providing them real weight and meaning. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet take place in a field with few spectators watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You'll battle in restaurants with diners observing while they eat. A fancy battle society will invite you to a competition, and you will combat on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated base of a certain faction with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct combat settings brim with character that's absent from the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Championship, as well as subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I