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I don't recall exactly how the tradition started, but I always name every one of my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Whether it's a core franchise title or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction alternates between male and female avatars, with dark and violet locks. Occasionally their style is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in this enduring series (and one of the more style-conscious entries). At other moments they're confined to the various academic attire styles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they're always Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Games

Much like my characters, the Pokémon games have evolved between releases, some cosmetic, others substantial. But at their heart, they stay the same; they're consistently Pokémon through and through. Game Freak discovered an almost flawless mechanics system approximately three decades back, and has only seriously tried to innovate upon it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar faces peril). Across every version, the fundamental mechanics cycle of capturing and battling alongside adorable monsters has remained consistent for nearly the same duration as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, with its lack of arenas and focus on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes to that formula. It takes place entirely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the expansive journeys of previous games. Pokemon are intended to live together alongside people, battlers and civilians, in manners we have merely glimpsed previously.

Far more drastic is Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. This is where the franchise's near-perfect gameplay loop undergoes its most significant evolution to date, replacing methodical turn-based bouts with something more chaotic. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, despite I find myself eager for a new turn-based release. Though these changes to the classic Pokémon formula sound like they form an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your created character planned as a visitor are discarded; you're promptly recruited by the female guide (if playing as a male character; Urbain if female) to become part of their squad of trainers. You're gifted a creature from them as your starter and are sent into the Z-A Royale.

The Royale is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" progression of past games. But here, you fight a handful of opponents to gain the opportunity to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you'll be promoted to the next rank, with the final objective of achieving rank A.

Real-Time Battles: A New Frontier

Character fights take place at night, while navigating stealthily the designated battle zones is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to surprise a rival and unleash a free attack, since all actions occur instantaneously. Attacks function with recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent may occasionally strike simultaneously at the same time (and knock each other out at once). It's a lot to get used to initially. Despite gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel that there is plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in methods that work together synergistically. Positioning also factors as 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 need to be up close and personal).

The live combat makes battles progress so quickly that I find myself sometimes cycling through moves in identical patterns, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to breathe during Z-A, and plenty of chances to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles rely on feedback after using an attack, and that information is still present on the display within Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your opponent will result in certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to visit. It is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the vision of creatures and humans coexisting. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, taking flight when you get near like the real-life pigeons getting in my way while strolling through NYC. The monkey trio joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures like Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

A focus on city living represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote eventually. You might discover a passage you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture lacks character, and most rooftops and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I haven't been to Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where every district differs, and all are alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It features beige structures with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where The Metropolis Really Excels

In which Lumiose City really shines, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I adored the way creature fights within Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, giving them real weight and meaning. Conversely, fights within Scarlet and Violet happen on a court with two random people observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You'll battle in eateries with patrons watching as they dine. A fancy battle society will invite you to a tournament, and you will combat in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Various individual battle locales overflow with personality missing in the larger city in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

During the Royale, as well as quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I