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

Whether it's a main series title or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction alternates from male to female avatars, with black and purple hair. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in the long-running series (and one of the more style-conscious entries). Other times they're limited to the assorted school uniform styles of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they remain Glitch.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokémon Games

Much like my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed between releases, some cosmetic, some substantial. However at their core, they remain the same; they're always Pokemon through and through. The developers uncovered a nearly perfect mechanics system approximately 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to evolve upon it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character is now in danger). Across all iteration, the fundamental mechanics cycle of capturing and battling alongside adorable monsters has stayed consistent for nearly the same duration as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and focus on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple deviations to that formula. It's set entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the region-spanning adventures of previous games. Pokemon are intended to coexist with humans, battlers and civilians, in ways we have merely seen glimpses of before.

Far more radical than that Z-A's live-action battle system. This is where the franchise's almost ideal core cycle experiences its most significant evolution yet, replacing methodical sequential bouts for something more chaotic. And it's immensely fun, despite I find myself eager for another turn-based release. Although these changes to the classic Pokémon formula seem like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

Upon first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character planned as a visitor are discarded; you're immediately recruited by the female guide (for male avatars; Urbain if female) to join her team of trainers. You're gifted a creature from them as your first partner and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement from earlier titles. But here, you fight a handful of trainers to gain the chance to compete in a promotion match. Succeed and you'll be elevated to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of reaching the top rank.

Real-Time Combat: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles occur at night, while navigating stealthily the designated battle zones is quite entertaining. I'm always trying to get a jump on an opponent and launch a free attack, because all actions occur in real time. Attacks function with cooldown timers, indicating both combatants can sometimes attack each other concurrently (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's a lot to adjust to at first. Even after gaming for almost thirty hours, I continue to feel that there is plenty to learn regarding employing my creatures' attacks in ways that complement each other. Placement also factors as a major role in battles since your creatures will trail behind you or go to designated spots to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, whereas others must be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles go so fast that I find myself repeating sequences of attacks in identical patterns, even when this results in a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to pause in Z-A, and numerous chances to become swamped. Creature fights rely on response post-move execution, and that information remains visible on screen within Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Sometimes, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your opponent will spell immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's relatively small, although densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering unseen stores and rooftops to visit. It is also full of charm, and perfectly captures the vision of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, flying away as you approach similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna cling to trees.

An emphasis on urban life is a new direction for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city grows repetitive eventually. You may stumble upon a passage you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The building design is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and underground routes provide minimal diversity. Although I never visited the French capital, the inspiration for Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where no two blocks are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It features 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, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I adored the way creature fights in Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, giving them real weight and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet & Violet happen on a court with few spectators watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You will fight in eateries with diners observing as they dine. A fancy battle society will invite you to a tournament, and you'll battle on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. My favorite location is the beautifully designed headquarters of a certain faction with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Several distinct combat settings brim with character that's absent from the overall metropolis in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

During the Championship, as well as subduing wild powered-up creatures and filling the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I