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I'm not sure exactly how the custom began, but I consistently call all my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Be it a main series game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Glitch alternates between male and female avatars, featuring dark and violet locks. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in this long-running franchise (and among the most fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're confined to the assorted academic attire styles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they're always Glitch.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Titles

Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have evolved across installments, some cosmetic, others substantial. But at their core, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. The developers uncovered an almost flawless mechanics system some three decades back, and just recently seriously tried to innovate upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character is now in danger). Across every iteration, the fundamental mechanics cycle of capturing and battling alongside charming creatures has remained consistent for nearly the same duration as I've been alive.

Shaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, featuring absence of gyms and emphasis on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several changes to that formula. It takes place completely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of previous titles. Pokémon are intended to live together with people, battlers and non-trainers alike, in ways we've only seen glimpses of before.

Far more drastic than that Z-A's live-action battle system. It's here the series' near-perfect gameplay loop undergoes its biggest evolution to date, replacing methodical sequential bouts for something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, even as I find myself ready for a new traditional release. Although these changes to the traditional Pokemon recipe sound like they form 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 at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character had as a tourist get abandoned; you're promptly recruited by the female guide (if playing as a male character; the male guide for female characters) to become part of her team of trainers. You receive a creature from them as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement from earlier titles. However here, you battle a handful of trainers to earn the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you'll be promoted to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of achieving the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: An Innovative Frontier

Trainer battles occur during nighttime, while sneaking around the designated combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm always trying to surprise a rival and unleash a free attack, because all actions occur in real time. Moves operate on recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent may occasionally strike simultaneously at the same time (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's a lot to get used to at first. Despite playing for nearly thirty hours, I still feel like there's plenty to learn regarding employing my creatures' attacks in ways that complement each other. Positioning also plays a major role during combat since your creatures will trail behind you or move to specific locations to execute moves (some are long-range, whereas others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat causes fights go so fast that I often sometimes cycling through moves in identical patterns, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to pause in Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on response after using an attack, and that information is still present on screen within Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it because taking your eyes off your opponent will result in certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose City

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, although densely packed. Deep into the game, I continue to find new shops and rooftops to explore. It is also rich with character, and fully realizes the vision of Pokémon and people coexisting. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, flying away as you approach like the real-life city birds obstructing my path while strolling in New York City. The monkey trio gleefully hang from lampposts, and insect creatures such as Kakuna cling on branches.

An emphasis on city living is a new direction for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose becomes rote eventually. You may stumble upon a passage you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture lacks character, and most rooftops and underground routes offer little variety. Although I never visited Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a city where every district are the same, and they're all vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and simply designed terraces.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

Where Lumiose City truly stands out, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I loved the way creature fights within Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, giving them real weight and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet take place in a field with two random people watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You'll battle in eateries with patrons watching as they dine. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) hanging above. 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 Repetition

During the Championship, along with quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the creature index, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I