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I don't recall precisely when the tradition began, but I always name all my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Whether it's a core franchise game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction switches between male and female characters, featuring black and purple locks. Occasionally their fashion is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this long-running franchise (and one of the more style-conscious releases). At other moments they're confined to the assorted academic attire designs of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they're always Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Titles

Similar to my trainers, the Pokémon games have evolved across releases, with certain superficial, some significant. But at their heart, they stay the same; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. The developers discovered an almost flawless gameplay formula some 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to evolve upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character is now in danger). Across all version, the core gameplay loop of catching and fighting alongside adorable monsters has stayed steady for nearly as long as my lifetime.

Breaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, with its lack of arenas and focus on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several changes to that formula. It takes place entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the expansive adventures of previous games. Pokemon are intended to coexist alongside humans, trainers and non-trainers alike, in ways we've only glimpsed before.

Far more radical than that Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the series' near-perfect gameplay loop undergoes its most significant transformation yet, replacing deliberate turn-based bouts with something more chaotic. And it is immensely fun, even as I feel eager for another traditional entry. Although these alterations to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they form an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

Upon first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your custom avatar planned as a visitor are discarded; you're immediately enlisted by Taunie (if playing as a male character; Urbain if female) to join their squad of battlers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your starter and are sent into the Z-A Royale.

The Royale is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" progression from earlier titles. But here, you fight a handful of opponents to earn the chance to participate in a promotion match. Succeed and you will be promoted to a higher tier, with the final objective of achieving rank A.

Real-Time Combat: An Innovative Frontier

Trainer battles take place at night, while sneaking around the assigned combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to get a jump on an opponent and unleash a free attack, because everything happens instantaneously. Attacks operate on cooldown timers, indicating both combatants may occasionally attack each other concurrently (and defeat each other at once). It's a lot to get used to initially. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I continue to feel that there is plenty to learn regarding employing my creatures' attacks in methods that work together synergistically. Positioning also factors as a significant part during combat as your Pokémon will follow you around or go to specific locations to execute moves (certain ones are distant, while others must be in close proximity).

The real-time action makes battles progress so quickly that I often sometimes cycling through moves in identical patterns, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to pause in Z-A, and numerous chances to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on feedback post-move execution, and that data remains visible on screen within Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it since taking your eyes off your opponent will result in immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, although densely packed. Deep into the game, I continue to find unseen stores and rooftops to visit. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the vision of Pokémon and people living together. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, flying away when you get near similar to actual city birds getting in my way when walking in New York City. The monkey trio joyfully cling on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna cling on branches.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a welcome one. Even so, navigating the city grows repetitive eventually. You might discover a passage you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The building design lacks character, and many elevated areas and sewer paths offer little variety. Although I never visited the French capital, the inspiration for the city, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where every district are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

In which the city really shines, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I loved how Pokémon battles in Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, giving them genuine significance and meaning. Conversely, battles in Scarlet & Violet take place on a court with two random people observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching as they dine. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a competition, and you'll battle on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated base of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales brim with character missing in the larger city in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Royale, along with quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the Pokédex, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I