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I don't recall exactly how the tradition began, however I always name every one of my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Be it a core franchise title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Glitch switches between male and female avatars, with black and purple hair. Occasionally their fashion is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in the long-running series (and one of the more style-conscious releases). Other times they're confined to the various school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they're always Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokémon Titles

Much like my characters, the Pokemon titles have transformed across installments, with certain superficial, others significant. But at their core, they remain the same; they're always Pokémon to the core. The developers uncovered an almost flawless gameplay formula some 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to innovate on it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character faces peril). Across all iteration, the fundamental mechanics cycle of catching and battling alongside adorable monsters has remained consistent for nearly as long as I've been alive.

Shaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, with its absence of gyms and focus on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several changes to that formula. It's set entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the region-spanning adventures of previous games. Pokemon are intended to coexist with humans, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely seen glimpses of before.

Even more drastic than that Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. It's here the franchise's almost ideal core cycle undergoes its biggest transformation to date, swapping methodical sequential bouts with something more chaotic. And it is immensely fun, despite I feel eager for another traditional entry. Though these changes to the classic Pokémon formula sound like they form a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

Upon initially reaching in Lumiose City, whatever plans your custom avatar planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're immediately recruited by Taunie (if playing as a male character; Urbain if female) to become part of her team of trainers. You receive a creature from them as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" progression from earlier titles. But here, you battle a handful of opponents to earn the opportunity to participate in an advancement bout. Win and you will be promoted to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of reaching the top rank.

Real-Time Combat: A New Frontier

Trainer battles occur during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the designated battle zones is quite enjoyable. I'm always attempting to get a jump on a rival and launch a free attack, because everything happens in real time. Moves function with recharge periods, indicating both combatants may occasionally strike simultaneously concurrently (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's a lot to adjust to at first. Despite playing for nearly 30 hours, I still feel like there's plenty to learn regarding employing my creatures' attacks in methods that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a significant part in battles as your Pokémon will follow you around or go to designated spots to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat makes battles progress so quickly that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, despite this amounts to a less effective approach. There's no time to breathe during Z-A, and plenty of chances to become swamped. Creature fights depend on response post-move execution, and that information remains visible on the display in Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Sometimes, you can't even read it because diverting attention from your opponent will spell certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, although tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I continue to find unseen stores and elevated areas to explore. It is also rich with character, and fully realizes the vision of Pokémon and people coexisting. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, flying away as you approach similar to actual city birds obstructing my path when walking through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

A focus on city living is a new direction for Pokémon, and a positive change. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive over time. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The building design is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and sewer paths offer little variety. While I haven't been to the French capital, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a city where no two blocks differs, and all are alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Really Excels

In which the city truly stands out, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I adored the way creature fights in Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, providing them real weight and meaning. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen in a field with two random people observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You will fight in restaurants with diners observing while they eat. A fancy battle society will invite you to a tournament, and you'll battle on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not Chandelure) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed base of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Several distinct combat settings overflow with personality missing in the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Familiarity of Repetition

During the Royale, as well as quelling rogue powered-up creatures and completing the creature index, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I