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I don't recall precisely when the tradition began, however I consistently call all my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Be it a core franchise game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Glitch alternates from male to female characters, with dark and violet locks. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in the enduring franchise (and one of the most style-conscious releases). Other times they're confined to the assorted academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Games

Much like my characters, the Pokémon games have transformed between releases, some cosmetic, others significant. However at their heart, they stay identical; they're always Pokémon through and through. The developers discovered an almost flawless mechanics system some three decades back, and just recently truly attempted to innovate on it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout every version, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and battling with charming creatures has stayed steady for almost as long as my lifetime.

Shaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, with its lack of arenas and emphasis on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple deviations to that framework. It's set entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the expansive adventures of earlier titles. Pokemon are intended to live together alongside people, battlers and non-trainers alike, in ways we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Far more drastic is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the franchise's almost ideal core cycle undergoes its biggest evolution yet, swapping methodical turn-based bouts with something more chaotic. And it's immensely fun, despite I find myself eager for another turn-based release. Although these alterations to the traditional Pokémon formula seem like they form a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character had as a tourist are discarded; you're promptly enlisted by the female guide (for male avatars; Urbain if female) to join her team of battlers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your starter and you're dispatched into the Z-A Championship.

The Royale is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" progression from earlier titles. However here, you fight a handful of opponents to earn the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you will be promoted to a higher tier, with the final objective of reaching the top rank.

Live-Action Battles: A New Frontier

Trainer battles occur during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is very enjoyable. I'm constantly attempting to get a jump on an opponent and launch an unopposed move, since everything happens instantaneously. Moves function with cooldown timers, meaning you and your opponent can sometimes strike simultaneously at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's much to get used to initially. Even after playing for nearly 30 hours, I still feel like there's much to master in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in methods that complement each other. Placement also plays a significant part 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 live combat causes fights go so fast that I find myself repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to breathe in Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on feedback post-move execution, and that information remains visible on the display within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your adversary will result in certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose City

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 visit. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, taking flight as you approach like the real-life city birds getting in my way when walking through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive over time. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and underground routes offer little variety. Although I haven't been to Paris, the inspiration for the city, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where every district differs, and they're all alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has beige structures topped with colored roofs and simply designed terraces.

Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

In which Lumiose City truly stands out, surprisingly, is indoors. I adored how Pokémon battles within Sword and Shield occur in football-like stadiums, giving them real weight and meaning. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet and Violet happen in a field with few spectators watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You will fight in restaurants with diners observing as they dine. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a competition, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated base of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Various individual combat settings brim with character that's absent from the larger city as a whole.

The Familiarity of Repetition

During the Royale, along with quelling rogue powered-up creatures and filling the creature index, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I