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I'm not sure precisely when the tradition began, but I always name all my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Whether it's a core franchise title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Malfunction alternates from male to female avatars, featuring black and purple hair. Sometimes their style is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in this long-running franchise (and one of the most fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're confined to the various academic attire styles of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Games

Much like my characters, the Pokemon titles have evolved between releases, some superficial, some substantial. But at their heart, they stay identical; they're always Pokémon to the core. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless gameplay formula approximately 30 years ago, and has only seriously tried to innovate upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character faces peril). Across every iteration, the core mechanics cycle of catching and fighting with charming creatures has stayed consistent for almost as long as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, with its absence of gyms and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple changes to that framework. It's set entirely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the region-spanning journeys of previous games. Pokemon are intended to live together alongside people, battlers and civilians, in manners we've only seen glimpses of previously.

Far more radical than that Z-A's live-action battle system. This is where the series' near-perfect gameplay loop undergoes its biggest evolution to date, replacing deliberate turn-based bouts for more frenetic action. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, despite I feel ready for another turn-based entry. Though these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe sound like they form a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

When initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your custom avatar planned as a visitor are discarded; you're immediately enlisted by the female guide (for male avatars; Urbain if female) to become part of her team of battlers. You're gifted a creature from them as your starter and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement from earlier titles. But here, you fight several trainers to earn the chance to participate in an advancement bout. Succeed and you will be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of reaching the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles occur at night, while sneaking around the assigned battle zones is very enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to surprise an opponent and unleash an unopposed move, because all actions occur instantaneously. Attacks function with recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent can sometimes strike simultaneously at the same time (and defeat each other at once). It's a lot to adjust to initially. Despite playing for nearly 30 hours, I continue to feel that there is plenty to learn regarding employing my creatures' attacks in methods that complement each other. Placement also factors as a major role in battles as your Pokémon will follow you around or go to specific locations to perform attacks (some are long-range, whereas others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat causes fights progress so quickly that I find myself repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, despite this amounts to a less effective approach. There's no time to breathe in Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles rely on feedback post-move execution, and that information is still present on screen within Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your opponent will result in immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to explore. It is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away as you approach like the real-life pigeons obstructing my path while strolling in New York City. The monkey trio gleefully hang on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna cling on branches.

An emphasis on city living is a new direction for the franchise, and a positive change. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive over time. You might discover an alley you never visited, but it feels identical. The architecture lacks character, and most rooftops and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. Although I never visited Paris, the inspiration for the city, 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 give them soul. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It features tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Really Excels

In which the city truly stands out, surprisingly, is indoors. I adored how Pokémon battles in Sword & Shield occur in arena-like venues, giving them real weight and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen on a court with few spectators watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between the two. 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 on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. My favorite location is the beautifully designed headquarters of a certain faction with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Various individual combat settings brim with character missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Championship, along with subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the creature index, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I