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I'm not sure precisely when the custom began, however I always name every one of my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series game or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Malfunction switches from male to female avatars, featuring dark and violet hair. Occasionally their fashion is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this enduring franchise (and among the more fashion-focused releases). Other times they're confined to the various school uniform designs of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they're always Glitch.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Games

Similar to my characters, the Pokemon titles have transformed across installments, with certain superficial, some significant. But at their heart, they remain the same; they're consistently Pokemon through and through. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some three decades back, and has only truly attempted to evolve upon it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character faces peril). Across every iteration, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and battling alongside charming creatures has stayed consistent for nearly as long as I've been alive.

Shaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and focus on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple deviations into that formula. It takes place completely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the expansive journeys of previous titles. Pokémon are intended to coexist alongside humans, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely glimpsed previously.

Even more radical is Z-A's real-time battle system. It's here the franchise's almost ideal core cycle experiences its most significant evolution to date, swapping deliberate sequential bouts for something more chaotic. And it's immensely fun, despite I find myself ready for a new turn-based entry. Although these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe sound like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

Upon first arriving in Lumiose City, whatever plans your created character planned as a visitor are discarded; you're promptly enlisted by Taunie (if playing as a male character; Urbain for female characters) to join their squad of trainers. You're gifted a creature from them as your first partner and you're dispatched into the Z-A Championship.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement from earlier titles. But here, you battle several opponents to earn the chance to participate in an advancement bout. Win and you'll be elevated to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of achieving rank A.

Real-Time Battles: An Innovative Frontier

Character fights occur at night, and navigating stealthily the designated battle zones is very enjoyable. I'm always trying to surprise an opponent and unleash an unopposed move, because everything happens instantaneously. Attacks function with recharge periods, meaning you and your opponent may occasionally attack each other concurrently (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's much to adjust to at first. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I continue to feel like there's plenty to learn regarding using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a significant part during combat as your Pokémon will follow you around or go to specific locations to execute moves (certain ones are distant, whereas others must be up close and personal).

The live combat makes battles go so fast that I find myself repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, despite this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and plenty of chances to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles depend on response after using an attack, and that data remains visible on screen in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Sometimes, you can't even read it because taking your eyes off your adversary will spell certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, though densely packed. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering unseen stores and elevated areas to explore. It's also rich with character, and perfectly captures the concept of creatures and humans living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, taking flight as you approach similar to actual pigeons getting in my way while strolling through NYC. The monkey trio joyfully cling on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

A focus on city living is a new direction for the franchise, 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 architecture lacks character, and most rooftops and underground routes provide minimal diversity. Although I never visited Paris, the inspiration for Lumiose, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where no two blocks are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It has tan buildings topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

Where Lumiose City really shines, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I loved the way creature fights in Sword & Shield occur in arena-like venues, giving them genuine significance and meaning. Conversely, battles in Scarlet & Violet take place on a court 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. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you'll battle on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) suspended overhead. My favorite location is the beautifully designed headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales overflow with personality missing in the larger city in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

Throughout the Championship, along with subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable feeling of, {"I