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I don't recall precisely when the custom began, however I always name every one of my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Be it a core franchise game or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Glitch alternates from male to female characters, featuring black and purple locks. Occasionally their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in the enduring series (and among the more fashion-focused releases). Other times they're limited to the assorted academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they remain Glitch.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Games

Much like my characters, the Pokémon games have transformed between releases, some superficial, others substantial. But at their core, they remain identical; they're always Pokemon through and through. The developers discovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula approximately three decades back, and has only truly attempted to innovate upon it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar faces peril). Across all iteration, the core gameplay loop of catching and battling with charming creatures has stayed steady for nearly as long as I've been alive.

Breaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, with its lack of arenas and focus on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes into that formula. It takes place completely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the expansive journeys of earlier games. Pokémon are intended to live together with people, battlers and non-trainers alike, in manners we've only glimpsed previously.

Far more drastic is Z-A's real-time battle system. It's here the series' almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its biggest transformation yet, swapping methodical sequential bouts with something more chaotic. And it is immensely fun, despite I feel ready for a new traditional release. Though these alterations to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they create an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character planned as a visitor are discarded; you're immediately enlisted by Taunie (if playing as a male character; the male guide for female characters) to become part of her team of battlers. You're gifted a creature from them as your starter and are sent into the Z-A Royale.

The Championship is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" progression from earlier titles. However here, you battle several opponents to earn the opportunity to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you'll be promoted to a higher tier, with the final objective of reaching the top rank.

Live-Action Battles: A New Approach

Trainer battles take place during nighttime, while navigating stealthily the assigned combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm always trying to get a jump on an opponent and unleash an unopposed move, since everything happens instantaneously. Moves operate on cooldown timers, indicating both combatants can sometimes strike simultaneously at the same time (and knock each other out at once). It's much to get used to at first. Despite gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel that there is much to master regarding using my Pokémon's moves in ways that work together synergistically. Placement also factors as a major role in battles since your creatures will trail behind you or go to specific locations to execute moves (some are long-range, while others must be in close proximity).

The live combat causes fights progress so quickly that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, despite this results in a less effective approach. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Creature fights rely on feedback after using an attack, and that information remains visible on the display in Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it because diverting attention from your adversary will spell certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose City

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I continue to find unseen stores and rooftops to visit. It is also rich with character, and fully realizes the concept of creatures and humans coexisting. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, flying away as you approach similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path while strolling through NYC. The monkey trio gleefully hang from lampposts, and insect creatures such as Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

A focus on city living represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, navigating the city grows repetitive eventually. You might discover a passage you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and underground routes offer little variety. While I never visited the French capital, the inspiration for Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where every district are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

In which the city really shines, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored how Pokémon battles in Sword and Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them real weight and importance. Conversely, fights within Scarlet & Violet happen on a court with two random people observing. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground 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 will combat in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. My favorite location is the beautifully designed headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Various individual combat settings brim with character that's absent from the larger city as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

Throughout the Championship, as well as subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the creature index, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I