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

Be it a core franchise game or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Malfunction alternates between male and female avatars, with black and purple hair. Occasionally their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in this long-running franchise (and one of the most style-conscious releases). At other moments they're confined to the assorted school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they're always Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Games

Similar to my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed across releases, with certain superficial, some significant. However at their core, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. The developers uncovered an almost flawless mechanics system approximately 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to innovate on it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Across every version, the fundamental mechanics cycle of catching and battling with charming creatures has remained steady for almost the same duration as my lifetime.

Shaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, with its lack of arenas and focus on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes to that formula. It takes place entirely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the region-spanning journeys of earlier titles. Pokémon are meant to coexist alongside people, trainers and civilians, in manners we've only glimpsed previously.

Far more radical than that Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the series' near-perfect core cycle experiences its biggest transformation to date, swapping methodical turn-based bouts for something more chaotic. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, despite I find myself eager for a new traditional release. Although these alterations to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they form a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character had as a tourist are discarded; you're promptly enlisted by the female guide (if playing as a male character; Urbain for female characters) to become part of their squad of trainers. You receive a creature from them as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement of past games. However here, you fight several opponents to gain the chance to participate in a promotion match. Succeed and you'll be promoted to a higher tier, with the final objective of achieving rank A.

Real-Time Battles: A New Frontier

Trainer battles take place during nighttime, while sneaking around the designated combat areas is very entertaining. I'm always trying to get a jump on a rival and unleash a free attack, since all actions occur in real time. Attacks operate on cooldown timers, meaning you and your opponent can sometimes attack each other concurrently (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's much to adjust to initially. Despite playing for nearly 30 hours, I continue to feel that there is plenty to learn regarding using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Placement also factors as a significant part during combat as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to specific locations to perform attacks (some are long-range, whereas others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles go so fast that I find myself repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to breathe in Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on feedback after using an attack, and that data is still present on screen within Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Sometimes, you can't even read it since diverting attention from your adversary will spell certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, although tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I continue to find unseen stores and elevated areas to explore. It's also rich with character, and fully realizes the concept of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, flying away as you approach similar to actual pigeons getting in my way while strolling in New York City. The monkey trio joyfully cling on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on city living is a new direction for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Even so, navigating the city grows repetitive eventually. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The building design lacks character, and most rooftops and sewer paths offer little variety. Although I haven't been to Paris, 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 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.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

In which Lumiose City really shines, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I adored how Pokémon battles within Sword & Shield occur in football-like stadiums, giving 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'll battle in restaurants with diners observing while they eat. An elite combat club will invite you to a tournament, and you will combat in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct combat settings overflow with personality that's absent from the larger city as a whole.

The Comfort of Repetition

During the Championship, as well as subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the creature index, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I