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I'm not sure exactly how the tradition began, however I consistently call all my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Glitch alternates between male and female characters, with black and purple hair. Occasionally their style is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in this long-running series (and one of the most fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're limited to the assorted school uniform styles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Glitch.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Games

Similar to my trainers, the Pokemon titles have transformed across releases, with certain cosmetic, others significant. However at their core, they stay identical; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula approximately three decades back, and just recently truly attempted to evolve upon it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout every iteration, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and battling alongside adorable monsters has stayed consistent for almost as long as I've been alive.

Shaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, 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 a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the expansive journeys of earlier titles. Pokemon are intended to coexist alongside people, trainers and civilians, in ways we have merely glimpsed previously.

Even more drastic than that Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. It's here the franchise's near-perfect core cycle experiences its biggest transformation to date, swapping methodical turn-based bouts with more frenetic action. And it's immensely fun, despite I feel eager for a new traditional release. Though these alterations to the traditional Pokemon recipe seem like they form a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

Upon initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your custom avatar had as a tourist are discarded; you're promptly enlisted by the female guide (if playing as a male character; the male guide if female) to join their squad of trainers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your starter and are sent into 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" progression of past games. But here, you battle a handful of trainers to gain the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you will be promoted to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of achieving the top rank.

Real-Time Combat: A New Frontier

Character fights take place during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the designated battle zones is quite entertaining. I'm constantly attempting to surprise a rival and launch an unopposed move, because all actions occur in real time. Attacks operate on cooldown timers, meaning both combatants may occasionally strike simultaneously concurrently (and defeat each other at once). It's a lot to adjust to at first. Despite playing for nearly 30 hours, I still feel that there is plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in ways that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a major role in battles as your Pokémon will follow you around or go to specific locations to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles progress so quickly that I often repeating sequences of attacks in identical patterns, even when this amounts to a less effective approach. There isn't moment to pause in Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Creature fights rely on response after using an attack, and that information is still present on the display in Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Sometimes, you can't even read it because taking your eyes off your opponent will spell certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, although tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I continue to find unseen stores and elevated areas to explore. It's also full of charm, and perfectly captures the vision of Pokémon and people living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path while strolling through NYC. The monkey trio gleefully hang on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

A focus on city living is a new direction for the franchise, and a positive change. Nonetheless, navigating the city becomes rote eventually. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture lacks character, and many elevated areas and sewer paths offer little variety. Although I haven't been to Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where no two blocks are the same, and they're all vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It features tan buildings with blue or red roofs and simply designed balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

Where the city truly stands out, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I adored how Pokémon battles in Sword & Shield occur in arena-like venues, giving them genuine significance and meaning. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet & Violet take place in a field with two random people watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You will fight in eateries 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) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed base of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Several distinct combat settings overflow with personality missing in the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Comfort of Repetition

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