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I'm not sure precisely when the tradition started, but I always name every one of my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series title or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Malfunction switches between male and female avatars, featuring dark and violet hair. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in the long-running series (and one of the most style-conscious entries). Other times they're limited to the various school uniform styles of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they're always Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokemon Games

Much like my characters, the Pokémon games have evolved across installments, with certain cosmetic, others substantial. However at their heart, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokemon to the core. The developers discovered an almost flawless gameplay formula approximately 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to innovate upon it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character is now in danger). Throughout all iteration, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and fighting alongside adorable monsters has remained consistent for almost as long as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, featuring lack of arenas and emphasis on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several changes to that framework. It's set completely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the region-spanning journeys of earlier titles. Pokémon are meant to coexist with people, trainers and civilians, in manners we've only glimpsed before.

Far more radical than that Z-A's live-action battle system. It's here the franchise's near-perfect gameplay loop undergoes its most significant transformation to date, replacing deliberate turn-based fights with something more chaotic. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, despite I feel ready for a new traditional entry. Though these alterations to the classic Pokémon formula sound like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

When initially reaching in Lumiose City, whatever plans your created character planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly recruited by Taunie (for male avatars; Urbain for female characters) to become part of their squad of trainers. You're gifted a creature from them as your starter and are sent to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Royale is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement from earlier titles. However here, you fight a handful of opponents to earn the opportunity to participate in a promotion match. Win and you will be promoted to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of reaching the top rank.

Real-Time Combat: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles occur at night, and sneaking around the designated combat areas is very entertaining. I'm constantly attempting to surprise a rival and launch an unopposed move, since all actions occur in real time. Attacks operate on recharge periods, indicating both combatants can sometimes strike simultaneously at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's a lot to get used to at first. Even after playing for nearly 30 hours, I still feel like there's plenty to learn regarding using my Pokémon's moves in methods that work together synergistically. Positioning also plays a significant part during combat since your creatures will trail behind you or move to specific locations to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat causes fights progress so quickly that I find myself sometimes cycling through moves in identical patterns, despite this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and numerous chances to become swamped. Pokémon battles depend on response post-move execution, and that data remains visible on the display within Z-A, but whips by quickly. Sometimes, you cannot process it because taking your eyes off your opponent will result in immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's relatively small, although tightly filled. Deep into the game, I continue to find new shops and elevated areas to explore. It is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people living together. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, flying away as you approach similar to actual city birds obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The monkey trio joyfully cling from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna cling to trees.

An emphasis on urban life is a new direction for Pokémon, and a positive change. Nonetheless, navigating the city grows repetitive eventually. You might discover an alley you never visited, but it feels identical. The building design is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and underground routes offer little variety. While I never visited Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where every district differs, and all are alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and simply designed terraces.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

In which the city really shines, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I adored the way creature fights in Sword & Shield occur in football-like stadiums, providing them real weight and meaning. Conversely, fights within Scarlet & Violet happen on a court with few spectators watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You will fight in eateries with patrons watching as they dine. 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 elegantly decorated headquarters of a certain faction with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Several distinct combat settings overflow with personality that's absent from the larger city as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

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