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I don't recall precisely when the custom started, but I consistently call all my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Be it a core franchise title or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Malfunction switches between male and female avatars, with black and purple locks. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in the long-running franchise (and one of the most style-conscious entries). Other times they're confined to the assorted academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokémon Games

Much like my characters, the Pokémon games have evolved between releases, with certain cosmetic, some substantial. But at their heart, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokemon through and through. The developers uncovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some three decades back, and just recently seriously tried to innovate upon it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar faces peril). Across every version, the core gameplay loop of capturing and fighting alongside adorable monsters has remained consistent for almost as long as my lifetime.

Shaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, with its absence of gyms and focus on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several changes into that framework. It takes place completely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of earlier titles. Pokemon are meant to coexist alongside humans, trainers and civilians, in ways we've only seen glimpses of before.

Even more drastic is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the franchise's near-perfect core cycle undergoes its biggest evolution to date, swapping methodical turn-based bouts with something more chaotic. And it's immensely fun, despite I feel ready for a new traditional release. Although these alterations to the traditional Pokemon recipe seem like they form an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

Upon initially reaching in Lumiose City, whatever plans your created character had as a tourist are discarded; you're promptly recruited by the female guide (if playing as a male character; Urbain 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 Championship.

The Royale is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" progression from earlier titles. However here, you fight a handful of trainers to earn the chance to compete in a promotion match. Win and you'll be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of achieving the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles take place at night, and navigating stealthily the assigned battle zones is very enjoyable. I'm always trying to surprise a rival and launch a free attack, because all actions occur in real time. Moves operate on recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent may occasionally attack each other at the same time (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's much to adjust to initially. Even after gaming for almost thirty hours, I continue to feel that there is much to master in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a significant part in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to specific locations to perform attacks (some are long-range, whereas others need to be up close and personal).

The real-time action makes battles go so fast that I often repeating sequences through moves in identical patterns, despite this results in a less effective approach. There's no time to breathe during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on feedback after using an attack, and that data remains visible on screen in Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Occasionally, you can't even read it because diverting attention from your adversary will result in immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, although tightly filled. Deep into the game, I continue to find unseen stores and elevated areas to explore. It's also rich with character, and perfectly captures the vision of Pokémon and people living together. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path while strolling in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang on streetlights, and insect creatures such as Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on city living is a new direction for Pokémon, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote eventually. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and underground routes provide minimal diversity. Although I never visited the French capital, the model behind the city, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a city where every district are the same, and all are alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and simply designed terraces.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

Where Lumiose City really shines, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights within Sword and Shield occur in arena-like venues, giving them real weight and meaning. Conversely, fights within Scarlet and Violet happen in a field with few spectators watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You'll battle in restaurants with diners observing as they dine. An elite combat club will invite you to a competition, and you will combat on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) hanging above. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated headquarters of a certain faction with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales brim with character missing in the larger city as a whole.

The Comfort of Routine

Throughout the Championship, as well as subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I