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I'm not sure precisely when the custom started, but I consistently call every one of my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Whether it's a main series title or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Malfunction switches between male and female avatars, with black and purple hair. Sometimes their fashion is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in this long-running series (and one of the most style-conscious releases). Other times they're confined to the various academic attire styles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Titles

Similar to my characters, the Pokémon games have transformed across releases, with certain superficial, others significant. However at their core, they remain the same; they're consistently Pokemon to the core. The developers uncovered an almost flawless mechanics system approximately 30 years ago, and just recently truly attempted to innovate on it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character faces peril). Across all version, the fundamental mechanics cycle of catching and fighting alongside charming creatures has stayed consistent for almost the same duration as I've been alive.

Breaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, with its absence of gyms and focus on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several deviations to that framework. It's set entirely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the region-spanning adventures of earlier games. Pokemon are intended to coexist with humans, trainers and civilians, in manners we've only glimpsed before.

Far more radical is Z-A's live-action battle system. It's here the franchise's near-perfect gameplay loop undergoes its biggest evolution yet, replacing deliberate sequential fights for something more chaotic. And it's immensely fun, even as I feel eager for a new turn-based entry. Though these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe sound like they create a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

Upon first arriving in Lumiose City, whatever plans your custom avatar planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly recruited by the female guide (if playing as a male character; Urbain for female characters) to join their squad of battlers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your starter and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Championship is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" progression from earlier titles. However here, you battle a handful of opponents to gain the chance to participate in a promotion match. Win and you will be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Live-Action Battles: A New Approach

Character fights take place at night, while navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is quite entertaining. I'm always attempting to get a jump on a rival and launch a free attack, because all actions occur in real time. Moves operate on cooldown timers, meaning both combatants may occasionally strike simultaneously concurrently (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's much to adjust to at first. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I continue to feel like there's much to master regarding employing my creatures' attacks in methods that complement each other. Placement also plays a major role in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to designated spots to execute moves (some are long-range, whereas others must be up close and personal).

The live combat causes fights progress so quickly that I find myself repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, despite this results in a less effective approach. There's no time to pause in Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to become swamped. Creature fights depend on response post-move execution, and that information remains visible on the display within Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Sometimes, you can't even read it because diverting attention from your opponent will result in immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose City

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, though tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I continue to find unseen stores and elevated areas to visit. It's also rich with character, and fully realizes the concept of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, flying away as you approach like the real-life city birds getting in my way when walking in New York City. The monkey trio gleefully hang on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna cling on branches.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a welcome one. Even so, navigating the city grows repetitive eventually. 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 offer little variety. While I haven't been to Paris, the model behind the city, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where every district differs, and all are alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It has beige structures with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

Where Lumiose City truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights within Sword & Shield take place in football-like stadiums, giving them genuine significance and meaning. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet and Violet happen on a court with two random people watching. It's a total letdown. 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 competition, and you will combat on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated base of a certain faction with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales brim with character missing in the larger city as a whole.

The Comfort of Routine

During the Royale, along with subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the creature index, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I