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I don't recall precisely when the custom started, but I always name every one of my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Be it a main series game or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Glitch alternates from male to female avatars, with dark and violet hair. Occasionally their fashion is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this enduring franchise (and among the most style-conscious releases). At other moments they're confined to the various school uniform designs from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they're always Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokémon Games

Much like my characters, the Pokemon titles have evolved between installments, some superficial, others substantial. But at their heart, they remain the same; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless gameplay formula approximately 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to evolve on it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character faces peril). Across every iteration, the fundamental mechanics cycle of capturing and battling with charming creatures has stayed consistent for nearly as long as my lifetime.

Breaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and emphasis on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several deviations into that formula. It takes place entirely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the expansive journeys of earlier titles. Pokémon are meant to coexist with humans, trainers and civilians, in manners we have merely glimpsed before.

Even more drastic than that Z-A's real-time battle system. It's here the series' almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its biggest evolution yet, replacing deliberate turn-based bouts for more frenetic action. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, even as I feel ready for a new traditional entry. Although these alterations to the traditional Pokemon recipe seem like they form an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your custom avatar planned as a visitor are discarded; you're immediately recruited by Taunie (if playing as a male character; Urbain if female) to join her team of trainers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your first partner and are sent into the Z-A Championship.

The Championship is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" progression from earlier titles. However here, you battle a handful of trainers to earn the chance to participate in an advancement bout. Succeed and you will be elevated to the next rank, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Battles: A New Frontier

Trainer battles occur during nighttime, while sneaking around the designated battle zones is very entertaining. I'm always trying to surprise an opponent and launch an unopposed move, since everything happens instantaneously. Moves function with recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent may occasionally strike simultaneously at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's a lot to adjust to at first. Even after playing for nearly 30 hours, I continue to feel like there's plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in methods that work together synergistically. Positioning also plays a significant part in battles as your Pokémon will follow you around or move to designated spots to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, whereas others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles progress so quickly that I often sometimes cycling through moves in the same order, despite this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to pause in Z-A, and plenty of chances to get overwhelmed. Creature fights rely on feedback after using an attack, and that information is still present on screen within Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it because diverting attention from your adversary will spell certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's relatively small, although tightly filled. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to explore. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the vision of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near similar to actual city birds getting in my way when walking through NYC. The monkey trio joyfully cling from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

A focus on urban life represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a positive change. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive eventually. You may stumble upon a passage you never visited, but it feels identical. The building design is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and sewer paths offer little variety. While I haven't been to Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a city where no two blocks differs, 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.

Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

In which the city truly stands out, surprisingly, is indoors. I adored how Pokémon battles within Sword and Shield occur in football-like stadiums, giving them genuine significance and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet take place in a field with two random people observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You'll battle in eateries 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 with a chandelier (not Chandelure) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed base of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct combat settings brim with character missing in the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Comfort of Routine

Throughout the Royale, as well as subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I