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I'm not sure precisely when the custom started, however I always name all my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Be it a main series game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Malfunction alternates between male and female avatars, featuring black and purple hair. Occasionally their style is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in this enduring franchise (and among the more fashion-focused releases). Other times they're confined to the assorted academic attire designs of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokémon Titles

Similar to my trainers, the Pokémon games have evolved across installments, some cosmetic, some significant. But at their heart, they remain the same; they're always Pokemon through and through. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless mechanics system some three decades back, and just recently truly attempted to evolve on it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character is now in danger). Across all iteration, the core gameplay loop of catching and fighting with adorable monsters has stayed consistent for nearly as long as my lifetime.

Shaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, with its absence of gyms and emphasis on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several deviations to that framework. It takes place entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the expansive adventures of previous titles. Pokemon are intended to coexist with humans, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely glimpsed before.

Far more drastic is Z-A's live-action battle system. It's here the series' almost ideal gameplay loop undergoes its most significant evolution yet, swapping deliberate sequential bouts with more frenetic action. And it is immensely fun, despite I find myself ready for another turn-based release. Though these changes to the traditional Pokémon formula sound like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

When initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character had as a tourist get abandoned; you're immediately enlisted by the female guide (if playing as a male character; Urbain for female characters) to join her team of battlers. You receive a creature from them as your starter and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" progression from earlier titles. But here, you battle several opponents to earn the opportunity to participate in an advancement bout. Win and you'll be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of achieving rank A.

Live-Action Combat: A New Frontier

Character fights occur at night, while sneaking around the assigned combat areas is very enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to get a jump on a rival and unleash a free attack, since all actions occur instantaneously. Moves function with cooldown timers, indicating both combatants may occasionally attack each other concurrently (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's a lot to get used to initially. Even after playing for nearly thirty hours, I continue to feel that there is plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in ways that work together synergistically. Placement also factors as a major role in battles since your creatures will follow you around or move to designated spots to execute moves (some are long-range, while others need to be in close proximity).

The real-time action makes battles progress so quickly that I often sometimes cycling through moves in the same order, despite this results in a less effective approach. There isn't moment to breathe in Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles depend on response post-move execution, and that information remains visible on screen in Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Occasionally, you cannot process it because taking your eyes off your opponent will result in immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering unseen stores and rooftops to explore. It is also rich with character, and fully realizes the concept of creatures and humans living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near like the real-life pigeons obstructing my path while strolling through NYC. The monkey trio gleefully hang from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

A focus on urban life is a new direction for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive over time. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture lacks character, and many elevated areas and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I haven't been to the French capital, the inspiration for the city, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where every district are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and simply designed terraces.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

In which Lumiose City truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I loved the way creature fights within Sword and Shield take place in arena-like venues, giving them real weight and meaning. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet & Violet take place in a field with few spectators watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You will fight in eateries with patrons watching while they eat. A fancy battle society will invite you to a tournament, and you will combat on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed base of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Several distinct battle locales brim with character missing in the larger city in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

During the Championship, along with quelling rogue powered-up creatures and completing the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable feeling of, {"I