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I don't recall precisely when the custom began, but I always name all my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Be it a main series title or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction switches from male to female avatars, with dark and violet hair. Sometimes their style is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in the long-running series (and among the more style-conscious entries). At other moments they're limited to the assorted school uniform styles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Titles

Much like my trainers, the Pokémon games have evolved between installments, some superficial, some substantial. But at their heart, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokemon to the core. The developers uncovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula some three decades back, and has only truly attempted to evolve on it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Across every iteration, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and fighting alongside charming creatures has stayed steady for nearly the same duration as I've been alive.

Shaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and focus on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple changes into that framework. It's set completely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the expansive adventures of earlier titles. Pokémon are meant to live together alongside people, battlers and non-trainers alike, in ways we've only glimpsed before.

Even more drastic is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the series' near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its biggest transformation to date, swapping methodical turn-based fights with more frenetic action. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, despite I feel ready for another traditional entry. Although these alterations to the classic Pokémon formula sound like they create an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

When initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your custom avatar planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're immediately enlisted by Taunie (if playing as a male character; the male guide for female characters) to become part of her team of trainers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your starter and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Championship is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement of past games. However here, you battle a handful of opponents to gain the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you will be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Live-Action Combat: A New Frontier

Character fights take place at night, and navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is quite entertaining. I'm always attempting to get a jump on an opponent and launch an unopposed move, because everything happens in real time. Attacks operate on recharge periods, meaning you and your opponent can sometimes attack each other at the same time (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's a lot to get used to initially. Even after gaming for almost thirty hours, I continue to feel that there is much to master in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in methods that complement each other. Positioning also plays a significant part during combat since your creatures will follow you around or go to specific locations to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, whereas others need to be in close proximity).

The real-time action causes fights progress so quickly that I often sometimes cycling of attacks in the same order, even when this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to pause during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles depend on response 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 since diverting attention from your adversary will spell immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, although densely packed. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering unseen stores and elevated areas to explore. It is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people living together. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, flying away as you approach like the real-life city birds obstructing my path while strolling through NYC. The monkey trio joyfully cling from lampposts, and insect creatures like Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

A focus on city living is a new direction for Pokémon, and a positive change. Nonetheless, navigating the city becomes rote eventually. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I haven't been to Paris, the inspiration for the city, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where no two blocks differs, and all are vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It has tan buildings topped with colored roofs and simply designed balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

In which Lumiose City really shines, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored how Pokémon battles within Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, providing them real weight and importance. Conversely, fights within Scarlet and Violet take place in a field with two random people observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You'll battle in restaurants with patrons watching as they dine. An elite combat club will invite you to a tournament, and you will combat in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Various individual battle locales brim with character that's absent from the overall metropolis in general.

The Comfort of Routine

Throughout the Royale, as well as quelling rogue powered-up creatures and completing the creature index, there is an unavoidable feeling of, {"I