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I don't recall precisely when the tradition began, however I always name all my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Whether it's a core franchise game or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Malfunction switches between male and female avatars, featuring dark and violet hair. Occasionally their style is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in this enduring franchise (and one of the more fashion-focused entries). Other times they're limited to the various academic attire designs from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they remain Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokemon Titles

Much like my characters, the Pokémon games have transformed across releases, with certain cosmetic, some substantial. However at their core, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. Game Freak discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some three decades back, and has only seriously tried to innovate upon it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar faces peril). Throughout every iteration, the core gameplay loop of capturing and fighting with adorable monsters has stayed consistent for almost as long as my lifetime.

Breaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, with its absence of gyms and emphasis on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several deviations to that formula. It's set completely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning journeys of previous games. Pokemon are intended to live together alongside humans, trainers and non-trainers alike, in ways we've only glimpsed before.

Even more radical is Z-A's live-action battle system. This is where the franchise's almost ideal core cycle experiences its most significant evolution to date, replacing deliberate turn-based fights with more frenetic action. And it is immensely fun, even as I feel ready for another turn-based entry. Although these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they create an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your custom avatar planned as a visitor are discarded; you're immediately recruited by the female guide (if playing as a male character; the male guide if female) to join her team of battlers. You receive a creature from them as your starter and are sent into the Z-A Royale.

The Royale is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" progression from earlier titles. However here, you fight a handful of trainers to gain the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you will be promoted to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of achieving the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: A New Approach

Character fights take place during nighttime, and sneaking around the assigned combat areas is quite entertaining. I'm always attempting to get a jump on a rival and launch an unopposed move, because all actions occur instantaneously. Attacks function with recharge periods, meaning both combatants may occasionally strike simultaneously at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's a lot to adjust to initially. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I continue to feel like there's plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in ways that work together synergistically. Positioning also plays a major role during combat as your Pokémon will follow you around or move to designated spots to execute moves (some are long-range, while others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles progress so quickly that I often sometimes cycling through moves in identical patterns, even when this amounts to a less effective approach. There's no time to breathe during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles depend on feedback post-move execution, and that data is still present on the display within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it because taking your eyes off your opponent will result in immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, though densely packed. Far into the adventure, I continue to find unseen stores and rooftops to explore. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the vision of creatures and humans coexisting. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, taking flight as you approach like the real-life city birds getting in my way when walking through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang from lampposts, and insect creatures like Kakuna cling on branches.

An emphasis on urban life is a new direction for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Even so, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive eventually. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The building design lacks character, and many elevated areas and sewer paths offer little variety. While I never visited the French capital, the model behind 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 vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and simply designed terraces.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Really Excels

Where the city truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I adored how Pokémon battles within Sword and Shield take place in arena-like venues, giving them real weight and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen in a field with two random people observing. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You will fight in restaurants with diners observing while they eat. A fancy battle society will invite you to a competition, and you will combat in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed base of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales brim with character missing in the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Royale, along with subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I