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I'm not sure exactly how the custom started, however I consistently call every one of my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Be it a main series title or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Malfunction switches from male to female avatars, with dark and violet hair. Sometimes their fashion is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in the long-running franchise (and among the most fashion-focused releases). Other times they're confined to the various school uniform styles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they're always Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokemon Titles

Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have evolved across releases, some superficial, some significant. But at their heart, they remain the same; they're consistently Pokemon through and through. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless gameplay formula approximately 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to innovate upon it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character is now in danger). Across all version, the core mechanics cycle of capturing and fighting with charming creatures has stayed consistent for almost as long as I've been alive.

Shaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several deviations into that formula. It's set completely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning adventures of earlier games. Pokemon are meant to live together alongside people, battlers and non-trainers alike, in manners we've only glimpsed previously.

Even more drastic is Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. This is where the series' almost ideal core cycle experiences its biggest evolution yet, replacing methodical sequential fights for something more chaotic. And it is immensely fun, despite I find myself eager for a new turn-based release. Although these changes to the traditional Pokémon formula sound like they create an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

Upon initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your created character had as a tourist get abandoned; you're immediately recruited by Taunie (if playing as a male character; Urbain if female) to join their squad of battlers. You're gifted a creature from them as your first partner and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" progression from earlier titles. However here, you battle a handful of trainers to gain the opportunity to participate in an advancement bout. Win and you'll be elevated to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Battles: A New Approach

Trainer battles take place at night, while navigating stealthily the designated battle zones is very entertaining. I'm always trying to surprise an opponent and launch an unopposed move, since all actions occur instantaneously. Moves operate on recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent may occasionally attack each other concurrently (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's much to get used to at first. Despite playing for nearly thirty hours, I still feel like there's plenty to learn in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in methods that complement each other. Positioning also plays a significant part during combat as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to specific locations to execute moves (some are long-range, whereas others must be up close and personal).

The live combat causes fights go so fast that I often repeating sequences through moves in the same order, despite this results in a less effective approach. There's no time to breathe in Z-A, and plenty of chances to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on response after using an attack, and that information remains visible on the display within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, 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 fairly compact, though tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering unseen stores and rooftops to visit. It is also full of charm, and perfectly captures the vision of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, taking flight as you approach similar to actual city birds obstructing my path when walking through NYC. The monkey trio joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures like Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

A focus on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You might discover an alley you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The building design is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and sewer paths offer little variety. Although I haven't been to the French capital, the inspiration for Lumiose, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where every district differs, and they're all vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It features beige structures with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Really Excels

In which Lumiose City really shines, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I adored how Pokémon battles in Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them real weight and meaning. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet and Violet take place on a court with few spectators observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You will fight in restaurants with diners observing while they eat. An elite combat club will invite you to a tournament, and you will combat in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Various individual battle locales brim with character missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Championship, along with quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the Pokédex, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I