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

Be it a core franchise title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Malfunction alternates between male and female avatars, featuring dark and violet hair. Occasionally their style is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in the enduring franchise (and among the most style-conscious entries). At other moments they're confined to the various school uniform styles of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they're always Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokemon Games

Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have evolved between installments, with certain cosmetic, some significant. However at their heart, they remain the same; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. The developers uncovered an almost flawless mechanics system some 30 years ago, and has only seriously tried to innovate upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character faces peril). Across every iteration, the fundamental mechanics cycle of catching and battling with adorable monsters has remained steady for almost as long as I've been alive.

Shaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and focus on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple deviations to that formula. It's set completely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the expansive adventures of previous titles. Pokémon are meant to coexist with people, battlers and non-trainers alike, in ways we have merely glimpsed previously.

Far more radical is Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. It's here the franchise's almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its most significant evolution yet, swapping deliberate sequential bouts with more frenetic action. And it is immensely fun, despite I feel ready for another traditional release. Although these changes to the traditional Pokemon recipe seem like they create an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

Upon first arriving in Lumiose City, any intentions your created character planned as a visitor are discarded; you're promptly enlisted by Taunie (for male avatars; Urbain for female characters) to join their squad of trainers. You receive a creature from them as your first partner and you're dispatched into 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 of past games. But here, you fight a handful of opponents to earn the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you'll be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of achieving the top rank.

Real-Time Battles: A New Frontier

Character fights occur during nighttime, while sneaking around the assigned combat areas is quite entertaining. I'm constantly attempting to surprise an opponent and unleash an unopposed move, because all actions occur in real time. Attacks function with cooldown timers, indicating you and your opponent may occasionally strike simultaneously concurrently (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's much 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 work together synergistically. Positioning also factors as a significant part during combat as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to specific locations to execute moves (some are long-range, while others must be in close proximity).

The real-time action makes battles progress so quickly that I often repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, even when this results in a less effective approach. There isn't moment to breathe in Z-A, and numerous chances to become swamped. Creature fights rely on feedback after using an attack, and that information is still present on screen within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it because taking your eyes off your opponent will result in certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, although tightly filled. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering unseen stores and elevated areas to explore. It's also rich with character, 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 getting in my way when walking in New York City. The monkey trio joyfully cling from lampposts, and insect creatures like Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on urban life is a new direction for the franchise, and a positive change. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive over time. You may stumble upon a passage you never visited, but it feels identical. The architecture is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and sewer paths offer little variety. Although I never visited the French capital, the inspiration for the city, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a city where every district differs, and all are alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has tan buildings topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Really Excels

In which the city truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I loved how Pokémon battles within Sword and Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them real weight and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet & Violet happen on a court with few spectators observing. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You'll battle in eateries with patrons watching as they dine. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a competition, and you will combat in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) hanging above. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated headquarters of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales brim with character that's absent from the larger city in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Royale, along with quelling rogue powered-up creatures and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I