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I'm not sure precisely when the tradition began, however I consistently call all my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Be it a main series title or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Glitch alternates from male to female characters, featuring black and purple locks. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in the long-running franchise (and among the most style-conscious entries). At other moments they're limited to the various school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Games

Similar to my characters, the Pokémon games have evolved between releases, some cosmetic, some significant. However at their core, they stay the same; they're always Pokémon to the core. Game Freak discovered an almost flawless gameplay formula some three decades back, and has only truly attempted to evolve upon it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Across every version, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and battling alongside charming creatures has stayed steady for almost the same duration as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, with its lack of arenas and emphasis on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple deviations into that formula. It takes place entirely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning adventures of previous titles. Pokémon are meant to live together with humans, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we've only glimpsed previously.

Far more drastic is Z-A's live-action battle system. This is where the franchise's almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its most significant transformation yet, replacing deliberate sequential bouts for more frenetic action. And it's immensely fun, despite I feel ready for a new turn-based release. Though these changes to the traditional Pokemon recipe seem like they form a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving in Lumiose City, any intentions your created character had as a tourist are discarded; you're immediately enlisted by the female guide (if playing as a male character; the male guide if female) to join their squad of battlers. You're gifted a creature from them as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement of past games. However here, you fight a handful of trainers to gain the opportunity to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you will be elevated to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of achieving rank A.

Real-Time Combat: A New Frontier

Character fights occur during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm always attempting to surprise a rival and unleash an unopposed move, since everything happens in real time. Attacks function with recharge periods, indicating both combatants may occasionally attack each other at the same time (and knock each other out at once). It's much to get used to initially. Despite gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel that there is much to master in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in ways that work together synergistically. Placement also plays a significant part in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to specific locations to perform attacks (some are long-range, whereas others must be up close and personal).

The real-time action causes fights go so fast that I often sometimes cycling through moves in identical patterns, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to pause during Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles depend on feedback post-move execution, and that information is still present on the display within Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Sometimes, you cannot process it since taking your eyes off your adversary will spell immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's relatively small, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering unseen stores and rooftops to visit. It's also rich with character, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near similar to actual city birds obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The monkey trio gleefully hang from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

A focus on city living represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city grows repetitive eventually. You might discover a passage you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture lacks character, and most rooftops and underground routes provide minimal diversity. Although I never visited the French capital, the model behind the city, 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 City doesn't have that. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and simply designed terraces.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Really Excels

Where Lumiose City truly stands out, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I loved how Pokémon battles in Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, giving them real weight and meaning. Conversely, fights within Scarlet & Violet take place in a field with two random people watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a competition, and you'll battle on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) hanging above. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated base of a certain faction with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales brim with character missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Familiarity of Repetition

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