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I don't recall exactly how the tradition began, but I consistently call every one of my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Whether it's a main series title or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Malfunction alternates from male to female avatars, with dark and violet hair. Sometimes their fashion is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this enduring series (and one of the more fashion-focused releases). Other times they're confined to the various academic attire designs from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Games

Much like my trainers, the Pokémon games have evolved across releases, some superficial, some significant. However at their heart, they remain the same; they're always Pokémon through and through. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless mechanics system approximately three decades back, and just recently seriously tried to innovate upon it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar faces peril). Across all iteration, the core gameplay loop of catching and fighting alongside charming creatures has remained steady for nearly as long as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several changes to that framework. It's set entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the expansive journeys of earlier games. Pokémon are intended to coexist with people, battlers and civilians, in ways we've only glimpsed before.

Even more radical is Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. This is where the franchise's almost ideal gameplay loop undergoes its most significant transformation to date, swapping methodical turn-based fights for more frenetic action. And it's immensely fun, even as I feel eager for another turn-based entry. Although these alterations to the classic Pokémon formula sound like they form a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

Upon initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character had as a tourist get abandoned; you're promptly 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 a creature from them as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Royale is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement of past games. But here, you battle a handful of opponents to gain the opportunity to participate in an advancement bout. Win and you'll be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of reaching the top rank.

Real-Time Battles: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles take place during nighttime, while sneaking around the assigned combat areas is very entertaining. I'm always trying to get a jump on an opponent and unleash an unopposed move, since all actions occur in real time. Attacks function with cooldown timers, indicating you and your opponent may occasionally strike simultaneously at the same time (and knock each other out at once). It's much to get used to at first. Despite playing for nearly thirty hours, I continue to feel like there's much to master regarding using my Pokémon's moves in ways that work together synergistically. Placement also factors as a major role during combat since your creatures will follow you around or go to specific locations to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others must be up close and personal).

The live combat makes battles progress so quickly that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to pause during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles rely on feedback post-move execution, and that information is still present on the display in Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it because diverting attention from your adversary will spell certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, although tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I continue to find new shops and rooftops to explore. It is also full of charm, and fully realizes the concept of creatures and humans coexisting. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away as you approach similar to actual city birds getting in my way while strolling through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang from lampposts, and insect creatures like Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

An emphasis on city living is a new direction for Pokémon, and a positive change. Nonetheless, navigating the city grows repetitive over time. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The building design lacks character, and many elevated areas and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. Although I haven't been to the French capital, the model behind Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where no two blocks differs, and they're all vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It features beige structures with blue or red roofs and simply designed balconies.

Where The Metropolis Really Excels

In which the city truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I adored how Pokémon battles in Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them real weight and importance. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet and Violet happen on a court with two random people observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You will fight in eateries with diners observing as they dine. A fancy battle society will invite you to a competition, and you will combat in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Various individual combat settings overflow with personality missing in the larger city in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

Throughout the Royale, as well as subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable feeling of, {"I