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

Whether it's a core franchise title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Malfunction alternates between male and female characters, featuring black and purple hair. Occasionally their fashion is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this long-running franchise (and among the most fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're limited to the assorted school uniform designs of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they're always Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Games

Similar to my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed between installments, with certain superficial, others substantial. However at their heart, they remain the same; they're consistently Pokemon through and through. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect mechanics system approximately three decades back, and just recently truly attempted to evolve upon it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar faces peril). Across every iteration, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and battling alongside charming creatures has stayed consistent for nearly the same duration as I've been alive.

Breaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and emphasis on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple deviations to that formula. It takes place entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the region-spanning adventures of previous titles. Pokémon are meant to live together with humans, battlers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely seen glimpses of before.

Far more radical is Z-A's live-action battle system. It's here the franchise's almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its biggest transformation to date, replacing methodical sequential bouts for more frenetic action. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, despite I find myself eager for another turn-based release. Although these changes to the classic Pokémon formula sound like they create an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

Upon initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your custom avatar had as a tourist are discarded; you're immediately recruited by the female guide (if playing as a male character; Urbain for female characters) to join her team of battlers. You're gifted a creature from them as your starter and you're dispatched into the Z-A Royale.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement from earlier titles. However here, you fight several 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 reaching the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: A New Frontier

Character fights take place at night, while sneaking around the assigned battle zones is quite enjoyable. I'm always trying to get a jump on a rival and unleash an unopposed move, since everything happens instantaneously. Attacks operate on recharge periods, meaning you and your opponent can sometimes attack each other at the same time (and knock each other out at once). It's much to adjust to at first. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I continue to feel like there's plenty to learn in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in methods that work together synergistically. Placement also plays a major role in battles since your creatures will follow you around or move to specific locations to perform attacks (some are long-range, while others must be up close and personal).

The real-time action makes battles go so fast that I often repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, even when this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to breathe in Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Creature fights rely on feedback post-move execution, and that data remains visible on the display in Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Occasionally, you can't even read it since taking your eyes off your adversary will result in certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, although densely packed. Far into the adventure, I continue to find new shops and elevated areas to explore. It is also full of charm, and fully realizes the concept of creatures and humans coexisting. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near similar to actual pigeons getting in my way when walking through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang on streetlights, and insect creatures like Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city grows repetitive 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. Although I haven't been to the French capital, the inspiration for Lumiose, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a city where every district are the same, and they're all vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

Where the city truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I loved how Pokémon battles in Sword & Shield occur in football-like stadiums, giving them genuine significance and importance. Conversely, fights within Scarlet & Violet take place in a field with few spectators observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You'll battle in restaurants with diners observing while they eat. A fancy battle society will invite you to a tournament, and you'll battle on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales brim with character missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Comfort of Routine

Throughout the Royale, along with quelling rogue powered-up creatures and filling the creature index, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I