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I'm not sure precisely when the tradition started, however I consistently call every one of my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Whether it's a core franchise title or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Glitch switches from male to female avatars, featuring black and purple locks. Sometimes their fashion is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in the long-running franchise (and one of the most fashion-focused releases). Other times they're confined to the assorted school uniform designs from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Games

Similar to my characters, the Pokemon titles have evolved across installments, some cosmetic, some significant. But at their heart, they remain the same; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some 30 years ago, and just recently truly attempted to innovate on it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar faces peril). Throughout all iteration, the core gameplay loop of capturing and battling with charming creatures has stayed steady for almost as long as my lifetime.

Shaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, featuring lack of arenas and emphasis on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple deviations to that framework. It's set entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the expansive journeys of previous titles. Pokémon are meant to coexist alongside people, trainers and civilians, in manners we've only seen glimpses of before.

Even more drastic is Z-A's live-action battle system. It's here the series' almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its most significant evolution to date, swapping methodical turn-based bouts for something more chaotic. And it's immensely fun, despite I find myself eager for another turn-based release. Although these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they create a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

Upon initially reaching in Lumiose City, any intentions your custom avatar planned as a visitor are discarded; you're immediately enlisted by Taunie (if playing as a male character; the male guide if female) to become part of their squad of battlers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your starter and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement from earlier titles. But here, you fight a handful of opponents to earn the opportunity to participate in a promotion match. Win and you will be promoted to a higher tier, with the final objective of achieving rank A.

Live-Action Combat: An Innovative Frontier

Trainer battles take place at night, and sneaking around the assigned battle zones is very entertaining. I'm always attempting to get a jump on a rival and launch an unopposed move, since everything happens in real time. Attacks operate on recharge periods, meaning you and your opponent can sometimes attack each other at the same time (and knock each other out at once). It's a lot to adjust to initially. Despite gaming for almost thirty hours, I continue to feel that there is much to master regarding employing my creatures' attacks in methods that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a significant part in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to specific locations to execute moves (certain ones are distant, while others need to be in close proximity).

The real-time action causes fights go so fast that I find myself repeating sequences through moves in identical patterns, even when this results in a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to pause in Z-A, and plenty of chances to get overwhelmed. Creature fights rely on feedback after using an attack, and that information is still present on screen within Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Sometimes, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your opponent will result in certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's relatively small, although tightly filled. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and rooftops to visit. It is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the vision of Pokémon and people coexisting. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away as you approach like the real-life city birds getting in my way when walking in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna cling to trees.

A focus on city living represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive eventually. You might discover an alley you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture lacks character, and most rooftops and underground routes offer little variety. While I haven't been to the French capital, the inspiration for the city, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a city where every district are the same, and they're all vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and simply designed terraces.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Really Excels

Where the city really shines, surprisingly, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights in Sword and Shield occur in football-like stadiums, giving them genuine significance and importance. Conversely, fights within Scarlet & Violet take place in a field with few spectators watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You will fight in eateries with patrons watching as they dine. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a competition, and you will combat in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated base of a certain faction with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct combat settings brim with character missing in the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Comfort of Repetition

During the Championship, as well as subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the creature index, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I