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I don't recall exactly how the custom started, however I consistently call all my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Whether it's a main series game or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Glitch alternates from male to female characters, featuring black and purple hair. Sometimes their fashion is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in this long-running franchise (and one of the more style-conscious releases). Other times they're limited to the various school uniform designs from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they're always Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Games

Similar to my trainers, the Pokémon games have evolved across installments, with certain cosmetic, some substantial. But at their heart, they stay identical; they're always Pokemon to the core. Game Freak discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to evolve upon it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar faces peril). Across every version, the core gameplay loop of capturing and battling with adorable monsters has stayed steady for nearly the same duration as I've been alive.

Shaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and emphasis on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes to that formula. It takes place completely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of earlier games. Pokémon are intended to live together with humans, battlers and civilians, in ways we have merely glimpsed previously.

Even more radical than that Z-A's live-action battle system. This is where the franchise's near-perfect core cycle experiences its most significant transformation yet, swapping methodical sequential bouts with something more chaotic. And it's immensely fun, despite I feel eager for a new turn-based entry. Though these changes to the traditional Pokemon recipe seem like they create a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your custom avatar planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're immediately recruited by Taunie (for male avatars; the male guide if female) to join her team of trainers. You receive a creature from them as your starter and you're dispatched into the Z-A Championship.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" progression of past games. However here, you fight several opponents to earn the opportunity to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you will be elevated to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of reaching the top rank.

Real-Time Combat: A New Approach

Character fights take place at night, and navigating stealthily the assigned battle zones is very entertaining. I'm always attempting to surprise a rival and launch a free attack, because all actions occur in real time. Attacks function with recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent may occasionally strike simultaneously concurrently (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's much to adjust to at first. Despite playing for nearly thirty hours, I continue to feel like there's much to master regarding using my Pokémon's moves in methods that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a major role during combat as your Pokémon will trail behind you or move to designated spots to execute moves (some are long-range, while others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat causes fights go so fast that I often sometimes cycling of attacks in the same order, even when this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles rely on feedback post-move execution, and that information is still present on screen within Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it since diverting attention from your opponent will result in certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose City

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's relatively small, although tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I continue to find unseen stores and elevated areas to visit. It is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people living together. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, flying away when you get near similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path while strolling through NYC. The monkey trio gleefully hang from lampposts, and insect creatures like Kakuna cling to trees.

An emphasis on city living is a new direction for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, navigating the city grows repetitive eventually. You may stumble upon an alley you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and sewer paths offer little variety. Although I never visited the French capital, the model behind the city, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a city where no two blocks differs, and they're all vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It features tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

In which Lumiose City truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights within Sword and Shield occur in football-like stadiums, giving them real weight and importance. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet and Violet happen in a field with few spectators observing. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You will fight in eateries with diners observing while they eat. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a competition, and you'll battle on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Various individual combat settings overflow with personality missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Comfort of Routine

Throughout the Championship, along with subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the creature index, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I