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I'm not sure precisely when the custom began, however I always name all my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series game or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Malfunction switches between male and female avatars, featuring dark and violet locks. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in the enduring franchise (and one of the most fashion-focused releases). Other times they're limited to the various academic attire styles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokemon Games

Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have evolved between releases, with certain cosmetic, some significant. But at their heart, they remain the same; they're always Pokémon to the core. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some three decades back, and just recently truly attempted to innovate on it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Across every version, the core mechanics cycle of capturing and battling with charming creatures has stayed consistent for nearly as long as I've been alive.

Breaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and focus on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple deviations to that formula. It's set completely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of previous titles. Pokemon are intended to coexist with humans, battlers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely glimpsed before.

Far more drastic than that Z-A's real-time battle system. This is where the series' near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its most significant evolution to date, replacing deliberate turn-based fights with something more chaotic. And it's immensely fun, even as I find myself ready for another traditional release. Although these changes to the traditional Pokemon recipe sound like they form an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

Upon initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your custom avatar had as a tourist are discarded; you're promptly recruited by the female guide (for male avatars; the male guide for female characters) to join their squad of trainers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Royale is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" progression from earlier titles. However here, you fight several opponents to earn the chance to participate in a promotion match. Win and you will be promoted to a higher tier, with the final objective of achieving the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles occur during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the assigned battle zones is very enjoyable. I'm constantly attempting to get a jump on an opponent and launch a free attack, because everything happens in real time. Attacks function with recharge periods, indicating both combatants can sometimes strike simultaneously at the same time (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's much to adjust to initially. Despite playing for nearly 30 hours, I continue to feel that there is plenty to learn regarding using my Pokémon's moves in methods that work together synergistically. Positioning also plays a major role during combat since your creatures will follow you around or move to designated spots to execute moves (certain ones are distant, whereas others need to be in close proximity).

The real-time action makes battles go so fast that I often sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, even when this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to breathe in Z-A, and numerous chances to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on feedback post-move execution, and that information is still present on the display within Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it since diverting attention from your adversary will spell immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, though tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to explore. It is also full of charm, and fully realizes the concept of creatures and humans coexisting. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, taking flight when you get near like the real-life city birds obstructing my path while strolling through NYC. The monkey trio gleefully hang from lampposts, and insect creatures such as Kakuna cling on branches.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Even so, exploring Lumiose becomes rote over time. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The building design is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and underground routes provide minimal diversity. While I haven't been to Paris, the model behind the city, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where no two blocks differs, and all are vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

Where the city really shines, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights within Sword & Shield occur in football-like stadiums, giving them genuine significance and meaning. Conversely, fights within Scarlet and Violet happen in a field with few spectators watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You'll battle in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a competition, and you will combat in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed base of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Various individual battle locales overflow with personality missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

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