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I'm not sure precisely when the tradition began, however I consistently call all my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series game or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction alternates between male and female characters, featuring black and purple hair. Occasionally their fashion is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in this long-running series (and one of the more fashion-focused entries). Other times they're confined to the assorted school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they remain Glitch.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Titles

Similar to my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed between installments, some cosmetic, others substantial. However at their heart, they remain identical; they're always Pokemon through and through. The developers discovered an almost flawless mechanics system some three decades back, and has only truly attempted to innovate upon it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout every iteration, the core gameplay loop of catching and battling alongside adorable monsters has stayed steady for almost as long as my lifetime.

Breaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and focus on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several changes into that formula. It takes place completely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of earlier games. Pokemon are intended to live together alongside humans, battlers and civilians, in manners we have merely glimpsed previously.

Even more drastic than that Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. It's here the franchise's near-perfect core cycle undergoes its most significant evolution to date, swapping deliberate sequential bouts for something more chaotic. And it's immensely fun, despite I feel ready for another traditional entry. Though these alterations to the classic Pokemon recipe sound like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

Upon first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your custom avatar had as a tourist are discarded; you're promptly recruited by Taunie (if playing as a male character; Urbain for female characters) to become part of her team of trainers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your starter and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" progression of past games. But here, you fight a handful of trainers to gain the opportunity to compete in a promotion match. Win and you'll be elevated to the next rank, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Combat: An Innovative Frontier

Trainer battles occur at night, and navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is quite entertaining. I'm constantly attempting to surprise a rival and launch an unopposed move, since everything happens instantaneously. Moves function with cooldown timers, meaning both combatants may occasionally strike simultaneously at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's much to adjust to at first. Even after playing for nearly thirty hours, I still feel like there's plenty to learn regarding using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Placement also factors as a significant part during combat as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to specific locations to execute moves (certain ones are distant, whereas others must be up close and personal).

The live combat makes battles progress so quickly that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in the same order, despite this results in a less effective approach. There's no time to breathe during Z-A, and numerous chances to become swamped. Creature fights rely on response post-move execution, and that information remains visible on screen in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Occasionally, you can't even read it since taking your eyes off your opponent will spell immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, although tightly filled. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and rooftops to explore. It's also full of charm, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away as you approach like the real-life city birds getting in my way when walking through NYC. The monkey trio gleefully hang on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

An emphasis on city living is a new direction for Pokémon, and a positive change. Even so, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive over time. You may stumble upon a passage you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture lacks character, and most rooftops and underground routes offer little variety. While I haven't been to Paris, the inspiration for Lumiose, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where no two blocks differs, and all are alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It features tan buildings topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

Where Lumiose City truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I adored the way creature fights in Sword & Shield occur in arena-like venues, providing them real weight and meaning. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet & Violet happen on a court with few spectators watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you will combat on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. My favorite location is the beautifully designed headquarters of a certain faction with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Several distinct combat settings overflow with personality missing in the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Comfort of Repetition

During the Championship, as well as subduing wild powered-up creatures and filling the creature index, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I