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I'm not sure exactly how the custom began, but I consistently call every one of my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

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. Glitch alternates from male to female avatars, with dark and violet locks. Occasionally their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in the long-running series (and among the more style-conscious releases). Other times they're limited to the assorted school uniform styles of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they remain Glitch.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Titles

Similar to my characters, the Pokémon games have transformed across installments, with certain superficial, others substantial. But at their core, they remain the same; they're always Pokémon through and through. The developers uncovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to innovate upon it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character faces peril). Across all version, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and fighting alongside adorable monsters has remained steady for almost the same duration as my lifetime.

Shaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, with its lack of arenas and focus on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several changes to that formula. It's set entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of earlier games. Pokemon are meant to live together alongside people, battlers and civilians, in ways we've only glimpsed previously.

Far more drastic than that Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. It's here the franchise's near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its most significant evolution yet, swapping deliberate turn-based fights for more frenetic action. And it is immensely fun, despite I find myself ready for a new traditional entry. Although these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

Upon first arriving in Lumiose City, whatever plans your custom avatar had as a tourist get abandoned; you're immediately recruited by Taunie (for male avatars; Urbain if female) to join her team of battlers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your first partner and are sent into the Z-A Championship.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement of past games. However here, you battle a handful of opponents to earn the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you'll be promoted to the next rank, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Combat: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles take place during nighttime, while navigating stealthily the designated battle zones is quite enjoyable. I'm always trying to get a jump on a rival and launch an unopposed move, because all actions occur instantaneously. Attacks function with cooldown timers, meaning both combatants may occasionally strike simultaneously concurrently (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's much to adjust to at first. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel that there is plenty to learn in terms of using my Pokémon's moves 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 specific locations to execute moves (some are long-range, while others must be in close proximity).

The real-time action causes fights go so fast that I often repeating sequences through moves in identical patterns, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to pause during Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on feedback post-move execution, and that information is still present on screen within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Sometimes, you can't even read it since diverting attention from your adversary will spell immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's relatively small, although tightly filled. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering unseen stores and rooftops to explore. It is also rich with character, and fully realizes the vision of creatures and humans coexisting. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near similar to actual city birds getting in my way while strolling through NYC. The monkey trio gleefully hang from lampposts, and insect creatures like Kakuna cling to trees.

An emphasis on city living represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a positive change. Even so, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive over time. You may stumble upon a passage you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and underground routes provide minimal diversity. Although I haven't been to the French capital, the inspiration for the city, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a city where no two blocks are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It features tan buildings topped with colored roofs and simply designed terraces.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

Where Lumiose City truly stands out, surprisingly, is indoors. I loved the way creature fights in Sword & Shield take place in football-like stadiums, giving them genuine significance and importance. Conversely, fights within Scarlet & Violet take place in a field with few spectators watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You'll battle in restaurants with diners observing as they dine. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you will combat on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated base of a certain faction with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Various individual combat settings brim with character that's absent from the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Royale, as well as subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the creature index, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I