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I don't recall precisely when the custom began, however I consistently call every one of my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Whether it's a core franchise game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Malfunction switches between male and female characters, with black and purple hair. Occasionally their style is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in the enduring franchise (and one of the most fashion-focused entries). Other times they're confined to the assorted school uniform styles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Titles

Similar to my trainers, the Pokemon titles have transformed across installments, with certain cosmetic, some significant. However at their core, they stay identical; they're always Pokemon through and through. Game Freak discovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula approximately three decades back, and has only seriously tried to innovate on it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character is now in danger). Across every version, the fundamental gameplay loop of catching and fighting with adorable monsters has stayed consistent for nearly as long as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several changes into that framework. It's set entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the expansive journeys of previous titles. Pokemon are intended to coexist with people, battlers and non-trainers alike, in ways we have merely glimpsed previously.

Even more radical is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. It's here the franchise's near-perfect core cycle undergoes its biggest evolution yet, replacing methodical turn-based fights for something more chaotic. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, even as I feel ready for another turn-based release. Although these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they form an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

When initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your created character planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're immediately recruited by Taunie (for male avatars; the male guide for female characters) to join their squad of battlers. You're gifted a creature from them as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" progression of past games. However here, you fight a handful of trainers to earn the chance to participate in a promotion match. Succeed and you'll be elevated to the next rank, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Live-Action Battles: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles take place at night, and navigating stealthily the assigned battle zones is quite enjoyable. I'm always attempting to surprise an opponent and unleash an unopposed move, since all actions occur instantaneously. Attacks function with cooldown timers, meaning you and your opponent can sometimes attack each other at the same time (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's a lot to get used to at first. Despite playing for nearly 30 hours, I continue to 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 during combat since your creatures will trail behind you or go to specific locations to execute moves (certain ones are distant, while others must be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles go so fast that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in the same order, despite this amounts to a less effective approach. There's no time to breathe in Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to get overwhelmed. Creature fights rely on response post-move execution, and that information remains visible on the display within Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Occasionally, you cannot process it because taking your eyes off your opponent will result in immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, although tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I continue to find new shops and elevated areas to visit. It's also rich with character, and perfectly captures the concept of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, taking flight as you approach like the real-life pigeons obstructing my path when walking through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling from lampposts, and insect creatures such as Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on urban life is a new direction for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Even so, navigating the city grows repetitive over time. You might discover an alley you never visited, but it feels identical. The architecture lacks character, and most rooftops and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I never visited Paris, the model behind the city, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where every district are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

In which the city really shines, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights within Sword & Shield take place in football-like stadiums, providing them genuine significance and meaning. Conversely, fights within Scarlet and Violet take place in a field with few spectators observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you will combat in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. My favorite location is the beautifully designed base of a certain faction with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Various individual battle locales brim with character missing in the larger city in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

Throughout the Championship, along with quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the creature index, there is an unavoidable feeling of, {"I