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I'm not sure precisely when the custom began, but I always name all my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Whether it's a main series title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Malfunction alternates from male to female characters, with dark and violet hair. Occasionally their style is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this enduring franchise (and among the most fashion-focused releases). Other times they're limited to the assorted school uniform designs from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they remain Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokémon Titles

Similar to my characters, the Pokemon titles have evolved across releases, with certain cosmetic, others substantial. But at their core, they stay the same; they're always Pokemon through and through. Game Freak discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to evolve on it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout all iteration, the core mechanics cycle of catching and fighting alongside adorable monsters has remained consistent for almost as long as my lifetime.

Breaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, featuring absence of gyms and emphasis on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several deviations into that framework. It takes place entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of previous games. Pokémon are intended to coexist alongside people, trainers and civilians, in manners we've only glimpsed previously.

Even more drastic is Z-A's live-action battle system. This is where the series' near-perfect gameplay loop undergoes its biggest transformation to date, swapping methodical sequential fights with something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, despite I find myself eager for a new traditional release. Although these alterations to the traditional Pokemon recipe sound like they form a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

Upon first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly enlisted by the female guide (for male avatars; Urbain if female) to join their squad of battlers. You receive a creature from them as your starter and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" progression of past games. However here, you battle several opponents to earn the opportunity to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you'll be elevated to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of reaching rank A.

Live-Action Battles: A New Approach

Character fights take place during nighttime, while navigating stealthily the designated battle zones is very entertaining. I'm always trying to get a jump on a rival and launch a free attack, since everything happens instantaneously. Attacks function with recharge periods, indicating both combatants may occasionally strike simultaneously concurrently (and defeat each other 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 employing my creatures' attacks in ways that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a major role during combat since your creatures will trail behind you or go to specific locations to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat causes fights progress so quickly that I find myself sometimes cycling through moves in identical patterns, even when this results in a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to pause in Z-A, and plenty of chances to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on feedback after using an attack, and that data remains visible on screen in Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it because diverting attention from your opponent will result in certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose City

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I continue to find unseen stores and elevated areas to visit. It is also rich with character, and fully realizes the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, flying away when you get near similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling from lampposts, and insect creatures like Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote eventually. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The building design lacks character, and most rooftops and underground routes offer little variety. While I haven't been to the French capital, the inspiration for the city, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where every district are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

In which the city truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights in Sword and Shield occur in arena-like venues, giving them genuine significance and importance. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet & Violet take place on a court with two random people watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. My favorite location is the beautifully designed base of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Several distinct battle locales brim with character missing in the larger city as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Royale, along with quelling rogue powered-up creatures and completing the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I