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I don't recall precisely when the tradition started, however I consistently call all my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Whether it's a core franchise title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction alternates from male to female avatars, featuring black and purple locks. Occasionally their style is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in this enduring series (and among the more fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're confined to the various school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they're always Glitch.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Titles

Similar to my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed between releases, with certain cosmetic, some substantial. But at their heart, they remain identical; they're always Pokémon through and through. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some three decades back, and just recently seriously tried to innovate upon it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character faces peril). Across every version, the core mechanics cycle of capturing and fighting alongside charming creatures has stayed steady for almost the same duration as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and emphasis on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple changes to that framework. It's set entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of earlier games. Pokémon are intended to live together alongside humans, battlers and civilians, in ways we've only glimpsed previously.

Even more drastic is Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. It's here the series' almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its biggest transformation to date, swapping deliberate turn-based bouts with something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, despite I feel eager for a new turn-based entry. Although these changes to the classic Pokémon formula seem like they form a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

Upon initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character had as a tourist are discarded; you're immediately recruited by the female guide (if playing as a male character; the male guide for female characters) to become part of her team of battlers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" progression from earlier titles. But here, you fight a handful of opponents to earn the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you will be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of achieving the top rank.

Real-Time Battles: A New Approach

Trainer battles occur during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the assigned combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly attempting to get a jump on an opponent and launch an unopposed move, since everything happens in real time. Attacks operate on cooldown timers, meaning you and your opponent may occasionally attack each other at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's much to get used to initially. Despite gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel like there's plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in methods that work together synergistically. Positioning also plays a major role in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or move to specific locations to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, whereas others must be up close and personal).

The real-time action causes fights progress so quickly that I find myself repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, even when this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to breathe in Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to become swamped. Creature fights rely on feedback after using an attack, and that information remains visible on screen in Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Occasionally, you can't even read it because taking your eyes off your adversary will result in immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose City

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, although densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and rooftops to explore. It's also rich with character, and fully realizes the vision of Pokémon and people coexisting. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near like the real-life pigeons getting in my way while strolling in New York City. The monkey trio gleefully hang from lampposts, and insect creatures such as Kakuna cling to trees.

A focus on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a welcome one. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You may stumble upon an alley you never visited, but it feels identical. The building design is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and underground routes provide minimal diversity. Although I haven't been to Paris, the model behind the city, I reside in New York for almost ten years. 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 tan buildings topped with colored roofs and simply designed terraces.

Where The Metropolis Really Excels

Where Lumiose City really shines, surprisingly, is indoors. I loved how Pokémon battles in Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, giving them real weight and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet take place in a field with two random people observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. An elite combat club will invite you to a tournament, and you will combat on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not Chandelure) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed base of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales overflow with personality missing in the larger city in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

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