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I'm not sure precisely when the custom began, but I always name all my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Whether it's a core franchise game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Malfunction alternates from male to female avatars, featuring black and purple hair. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in this enduring series (and one of the more style-conscious releases). At other moments they're confined to the assorted school uniform styles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they're always Glitch.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokémon Games

Much like my characters, the Pokémon games have evolved across installments, some cosmetic, some significant. But at their core, they stay identical; they're consistently Pokemon to the core. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula some three decades back, and has only seriously tried to evolve upon it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character is now in danger). Throughout all version, the core mechanics cycle of catching and battling with charming creatures has stayed steady for nearly the same duration as I've been alive.

Breaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, with its absence of gyms and emphasis on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes into that formula. It takes place entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of earlier games. Pokemon are meant to coexist with people, battlers and civilians, in ways we have merely seen glimpses of before.

Far more radical than that Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. This is where the series' near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its most significant evolution yet, replacing methodical turn-based fights with more frenetic action. And it is immensely fun, despite I feel ready for another turn-based entry. Although these changes to the traditional Pokemon recipe sound like they form an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

Upon initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your custom avatar planned as a visitor are discarded; you're immediately enlisted by the female guide (if playing as a male character; the male guide if female) to become part of their squad of battlers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your first partner and are sent into the Z-A Championship.

The Championship is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement of past games. But here, you battle several trainers to gain the opportunity to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you will be promoted to a higher tier, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Live-Action Combat: A New Approach

Trainer battles take place at night, and navigating stealthily the assigned combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm always trying to get a jump on a rival and unleash a free attack, because all actions occur instantaneously. Moves operate on cooldown timers, indicating both combatants may occasionally strike simultaneously concurrently (and defeat each other at once). It's a lot to get used to at first. Even after playing for nearly 30 hours, I continue to feel that there is much to master regarding employing my creatures' attacks in methods that work together synergistically. Positioning also plays a major role during combat since your creatures will trail behind you or go to specific locations to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, whereas others must be in close proximity).

The real-time action makes battles go so fast that I often sometimes cycling through moves in the same order, despite this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to pause during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Creature fights rely on response after using an attack, and that data remains visible on screen within Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Sometimes, you cannot process it since taking your eyes off your adversary will spell certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to visit. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the vision of creatures and humans coexisting. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, flying away as you approach similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path while strolling through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures such as Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

A focus on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, navigating the city grows repetitive eventually. You may stumble upon a passage you never visited, but it feels identical. The building design lacks character, and many elevated areas and sewer paths offer little variety. Although I haven't been to the French capital, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a city where no two blocks differs, and they're all vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It features tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

Where the city truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I loved how Pokémon battles in Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them real weight and importance. Conversely, fights within Scarlet & Violet happen in a field with two random people observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you will combat on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed base of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales overflow with personality that's absent from the larger city as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Royale, along with subduing wild powered-up creatures and filling the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I