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I don't recall precisely when the custom began, however I always name all my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Whether it's a core franchise title or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Glitch switches between male and female characters, featuring black and purple hair. Occasionally their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this long-running series (and among the more fashion-focused releases). Other times they're limited to the assorted academic attire designs from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they're always Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokémon Titles

Much like my characters, the Pokémon games have evolved between releases, some cosmetic, others significant. But at their core, they stay the same; they're always Pokémon to the core. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula some three decades back, and just recently seriously tried to evolve on it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character faces peril). Across all iteration, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and battling alongside adorable monsters has remained steady for nearly as long as I've been alive.

Breaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, featuring absence of gyms and emphasis on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple deviations into that framework. It takes place entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the region-spanning journeys of earlier titles. Pokémon are intended to live together alongside people, battlers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely seen glimpses of before.

Far more drastic than that Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. It's here the franchise's near-perfect gameplay loop undergoes its most significant evolution to date, swapping methodical turn-based fights for more frenetic action. And it's immensely fun, even as I find myself eager for a new traditional entry. Although these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

When initially reaching in Lumiose City, any intentions your custom avatar planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly enlisted by the female guide (if playing as a male character; the male guide if female) to become part of her team of trainers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your first partner and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Royale is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement from earlier titles. However here, you fight a handful of opponents to gain the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you'll be elevated to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of achieving the top rank.

Real-Time Battles: A New Frontier

Trainer battles take place at night, and navigating stealthily the designated battle zones is quite enjoyable. I'm always trying to surprise a rival and launch an unopposed move, since all actions occur in real time. Attacks function with recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent may occasionally attack each other concurrently (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's much to adjust to initially. Even after playing for nearly 30 hours, I continue to feel like there's much to master regarding employing my creatures' attacks in ways that complement each other. Positioning also plays a major role during combat as your Pokémon will trail behind you or move to designated spots to execute moves (some are long-range, whereas others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat causes fights go so fast that I find myself sometimes cycling through moves in the same order, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to pause in Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on feedback post-move execution, and that information remains visible on screen in Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Sometimes, you can't even read it because diverting attention from your adversary will spell immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I continue to find new shops and elevated areas to explore. It is also full of charm, and fully realizes the vision of Pokémon and people coexisting. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, flying away as you approach similar to actual pigeons getting in my way when walking through NYC. The monkey trio gleefully hang on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna cling to trees.

A focus on urban life represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a positive change. Nonetheless, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and sewer paths offer little variety. 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 differs, and all are vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has beige structures topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

Where The Metropolis Really Excels

Where the city truly stands out, surprisingly, is indoors. I adored how Pokémon battles within Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, providing them real weight and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen in a field with few spectators watching. It's very disappointing. 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 invite you to a tournament, and you'll battle on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) suspended overhead. My favorite location is the beautifully designed base of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Several distinct battle locales overflow with personality missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Comfort of Routine

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