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I don't recall precisely when the tradition started, however I always name all my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Whether it's a core franchise game or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Glitch alternates from male to female avatars, featuring dark and violet hair. Occasionally their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in the long-running franchise (and among the most style-conscious releases). Other times they're limited to the assorted academic attire styles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Glitch.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Games

Similar to my trainers, the Pokémon games have evolved across installments, some cosmetic, some substantial. However at their core, they stay identical; they're consistently Pokemon through and through. The developers discovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula some three decades back, and just recently seriously tried to innovate upon it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character is now in danger). Across all version, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and battling with adorable monsters has stayed steady for almost the same duration as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and emphasis on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes into that framework. It takes place entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the expansive adventures of earlier games. Pokemon are intended to live together with people, trainers and non-trainers alike, in ways we have merely glimpsed previously.

Even more drastic than that Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. This is where the franchise's near-perfect core cycle undergoes its most significant evolution to date, swapping methodical sequential fights with something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, even as I find myself eager for another turn-based entry. Though these alterations to the traditional Pokémon formula seem like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving in Lumiose City, whatever plans your created character planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly enlisted by the female guide (if playing as a male character; Urbain for female characters) to join their squad of battlers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your first partner and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Championship is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" progression of past games. However here, you battle several opponents to earn the opportunity to participate in a promotion match. Succeed and you'll be promoted to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of achieving the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: An Innovative Approach

Character fights take place at night, while navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is quite entertaining. I'm constantly attempting to surprise an opponent and unleash an unopposed move, because all actions occur in real time. Moves function with cooldown timers, meaning both combatants can sometimes strike simultaneously concurrently (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's a lot to adjust to at first. Even after playing for nearly 30 hours, I continue to feel like there's much to master in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in methods that work together synergistically. Placement also factors as a major role in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or move to specific locations to perform attacks (some are long-range, whereas others must be up close and personal).

The real-time action makes battles go so fast that I find myself sometimes cycling through moves in the same order, even when this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to pause in Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles rely on response post-move execution, and that information is still present on screen in Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Sometimes, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your opponent will spell certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, though tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I continue to find new shops and elevated areas to visit. It's also full of charm, and perfectly captures the vision of creatures and humans living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away as you approach like the real-life pigeons obstructing my path while strolling through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang from lampposts, and insect creatures such as Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

A focus on urban life is a new direction for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You may stumble upon a passage you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture lacks character, and most rooftops and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I haven't been to the French capital, the inspiration for Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where no two blocks differs, and they're all vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It has tan buildings topped with colored roofs and simply designed balconies.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Really Excels

In which Lumiose City truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I loved how Pokémon battles within Sword & Shield occur in arena-like venues, providing them real weight and meaning. Conversely, battles in Scarlet & Violet happen on a court with two random people observing. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You will fight in restaurants with diners observing while they eat. An elite combat club 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 elegantly decorated headquarters of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Several distinct combat settings overflow with personality missing in the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Comfort of Routine

Throughout the Royale, along with subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the creature index, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I