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I'm not sure precisely when the tradition started, however I always name every one of my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Whether it's a core franchise title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction alternates between male and female avatars, with black and purple hair. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in this long-running series (and among the most style-conscious entries). Other times they're limited to the various school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokemon Games

Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have transformed between releases, some superficial, some substantial. However at their heart, they stay the same; they're always Pokémon to the core. The developers uncovered an almost flawless gameplay formula approximately three decades back, and has only truly attempted to innovate on it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character is now in danger). Throughout all version, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and battling alongside charming creatures has remained steady for nearly as long as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, with its lack of arenas and emphasis on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several changes into that formula. It's set completely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of earlier games. Pokémon are intended to coexist alongside people, trainers and non-trainers alike, in ways we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Even more radical is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. It's here the series' near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its biggest transformation to date, replacing deliberate sequential bouts for something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, even as I find myself eager for a new traditional entry. Although these changes to the traditional Pokemon recipe sound like they form an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

Upon initially reaching in Lumiose City, whatever plans your custom avatar planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're immediately enlisted by the female guide (if playing as a male character; the male guide if female) to become part of her team of trainers. You receive a creature from them as your starter and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Championship is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" progression from earlier titles. However here, you fight several opponents to gain the opportunity to compete in a promotion match. Succeed and you will be promoted to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of achieving the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: A New Frontier

Character fights occur during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the assigned battle zones is quite entertaining. I'm constantly trying to surprise an opponent and launch an unopposed move, because everything happens instantaneously. Attacks function with cooldown timers, indicating both combatants may occasionally strike simultaneously concurrently (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's much to get used to initially. Despite playing for nearly thirty hours, I still feel like there's much to master in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in ways that complement each other. Positioning also plays a significant part in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to specific locations to execute moves (certain ones are distant, whereas others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat causes fights progress so quickly that I find myself repeating sequences through moves 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 response post-move execution, and that information is still present on the display within Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Occasionally, you can't even read it since taking your eyes off your adversary will spell certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, although densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to visit. It's also rich with character, and perfectly captures the vision of Pokémon and people living together. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, taking flight when you get near similar to actual city birds obstructing my path when walking through NYC. The monkey trio joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures like Kakuna cling on branches.

A focus on city living is a new direction for the franchise, and a welcome one. Even so, navigating the city grows repetitive eventually. You might discover a passage you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The building design lacks character, and most rooftops and sewer paths offer little variety. Although I haven't been to the French capital, the model behind the city, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a city where every district are the same, and they're all vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

Where Lumiose City truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored how Pokémon battles in Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, giving them genuine significance and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet & Violet happen in a field 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 as they dine. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you will combat in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) hanging above. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated headquarters of a certain faction with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Various individual battle locales overflow with personality that's absent from the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Comfort of Repetition

Throughout the Championship, as well as quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I