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I'm not sure precisely when the custom started, but I consistently call every one of my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Be it a core franchise game or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Glitch switches from male to female avatars, with dark and violet hair. Sometimes their style is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in the enduring franchise (and among the more style-conscious entries). Other times they're confined to the assorted school uniform designs from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they're always Glitch.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Titles

Similar to my trainers, the Pokémon games have evolved between installments, with certain cosmetic, others significant. However at their heart, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. The developers discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to innovate upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character is now in danger). Across every iteration, the fundamental mechanics cycle of catching and fighting alongside charming creatures has remained consistent for almost as long as my lifetime.

Breaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and emphasis on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple deviations into that framework. It takes place completely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the expansive adventures of previous titles. Pokemon are intended to live together with humans, trainers and civilians, in ways we've only seen glimpses of previously.

Even more drastic than that Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. It's here the series' near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its biggest evolution to date, replacing methodical turn-based fights for more frenetic action. And it's immensely fun, despite I feel eager for another turn-based release. Although these changes to the traditional Pokémon formula seem like they form a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

Upon initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your created character planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly recruited by Taunie (for male avatars; the male guide if female) to become part of her team of battlers. You receive a creature from them as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" progression of past games. But here, you battle a handful of opponents to gain the chance to participate in a promotion match. Succeed and you will be elevated to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of reaching the top rank.

Real-Time Combat: An Innovative Frontier

Character fights occur at night, and navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm always trying to surprise an opponent and launch an unopposed move, since all actions occur in real time. Attacks operate on cooldown timers, indicating you and your opponent may occasionally attack each other concurrently (and defeat each other at once). It's a lot to adjust to at first. Despite playing for nearly 30 hours, I continue to feel like there's much to master regarding employing my creatures' attacks in methods that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a significant part during combat since your creatures will follow you around or go to specific locations to execute moves (certain ones are distant, while others need to be up close and personal).

The real-time action causes fights go so fast that I often repeating sequences of attacks in identical patterns, despite this results in a less effective approach. There's no time to pause during Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to get overwhelmed. Creature fights rely on feedback after using an attack, and that data is still present on screen in Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it because diverting attention from your adversary will result in certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, although densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to explore. It's also rich with character, and perfectly captures the vision of Pokémon and people living together. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near similar to actual pigeons getting in my way when walking through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures like Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

An emphasis on city living represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You might discover a passage 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 haven't been to the French capital, the inspiration for Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where no two blocks are the same, and all are alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Really Excels

In which Lumiose City really shines, surprisingly, is indoors. I adored how Pokémon battles within Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, providing them genuine significance and importance. Conversely, fights within Scarlet & Violet happen in a field with two random people observing. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You will fight in eateries with patrons watching as they dine. A fancy battle society will invite you to a competition, and you will combat on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) hanging above. My favorite location is the beautifully designed headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Several distinct combat settings brim with character that's absent from the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Familiarity of Repetition

Throughout the Royale, as well as quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the Pokédex, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I