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I don't recall exactly how the tradition began, however I always name all my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Whether it's a core franchise title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Glitch alternates between male and female characters, featuring dark and violet hair. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in this long-running series (and one of the more fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're limited to the assorted school uniform designs from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they remain Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokemon Titles

Similar to my characters, the Pokémon games have evolved between releases, some superficial, some significant. However at their heart, they remain the same; they're consistently Pokemon to the core. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless mechanics system some three decades back, and just recently seriously tried to innovate upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character is now in danger). Across all version, the core mechanics cycle of capturing and fighting alongside adorable monsters has remained steady for nearly the same duration as my lifetime.

Breaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, featuring lack of arenas and emphasis on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several changes into that framework. It takes place entirely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the expansive adventures of previous games. Pokemon are meant to live together alongside humans, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely glimpsed previously.

Even more radical than that Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. This is where the series' almost ideal gameplay loop undergoes its most significant evolution to date, replacing methodical sequential bouts with more frenetic action. And it's immensely fun, despite I find myself ready for another turn-based entry. Though these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they form a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

Upon first arriving in Lumiose City, any intentions your custom avatar had as a tourist are discarded; you're immediately recruited by the female guide (for male avatars; Urbain if female) to become part of her team of trainers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" progression of past games. But here, you battle several opponents to earn the opportunity to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you will be promoted to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of reaching the top rank.

Real-Time Battles: A New Approach

Character fights take place during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the designated battle zones is very entertaining. I'm always attempting to surprise an opponent and launch a free attack, because everything happens instantaneously. Moves operate on recharge periods, meaning you and your opponent may occasionally strike simultaneously concurrently (and knock each other out at once). It's a lot to adjust to initially. Even after playing for nearly 30 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. Placement also plays a significant part during combat as your Pokémon will follow you around or move to designated spots to execute moves (some are long-range, while others must be in close proximity).

The real-time action makes battles go so fast that I often repeating sequences through moves in identical patterns, even when this results in a less effective approach. There isn't moment to breathe in Z-A, and plenty of chances to get overwhelmed. Creature fights rely on response after using an attack, and that data remains visible on the display in Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it since diverting attention from your adversary will spell immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you'll explore 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 is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the vision of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, flying away when you get near like the real-life pigeons getting in my way while strolling through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna cling on branches.

A focus on city living is a new direction for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You might discover a passage you never visited, but it feels identical. The building design is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and underground routes provide minimal diversity. Although I never visited the French capital, the inspiration for the city, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where no two blocks are the same, and all are alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It has beige structures with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

In which the city truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I loved the way creature fights within Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them real weight and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet & Violet take place on a court with two random people watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You'll battle in restaurants with patrons watching as they dine. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a competition, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. My favorite location is the beautifully designed base of a certain faction with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Several distinct combat settings brim with character that's absent from the larger city as a whole.

The Familiarity of Repetition

Throughout the Championship, along with subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the creature index, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I