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I'm not sure precisely when the custom began, but I consistently call every one of my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Whether it's a core franchise game or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Glitch alternates from male to female avatars, featuring black and purple locks. Occasionally their style is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in the enduring series (and among the most fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're limited to the various school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Glitch.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokémon Titles

Similar to my characters, the Pokémon games have transformed across releases, some cosmetic, some significant. However at their heart, they stay identical; they're always Pokemon to the core. Game Freak discovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula some three decades back, and has only truly attempted to evolve on it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar faces peril). Throughout every iteration, the core gameplay loop of capturing and battling with adorable monsters has stayed steady for nearly as long as I've been alive.

Breaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, featuring lack of arenas and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple deviations into that formula. It takes place completely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the region-spanning journeys of previous games. Pokémon are intended to coexist with humans, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we've only glimpsed before.

Even more radical is Z-A's real-time battle system. This is where the series' almost ideal gameplay loop undergoes its biggest evolution yet, replacing methodical turn-based fights with something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, even as I find myself eager for a new turn-based release. Though these alterations to the classic Pokémon formula sound like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your custom avatar planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly recruited by the female guide (if playing as a male character; Urbain if female) to join her team of battlers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your starter and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement from earlier titles. But here, you fight several trainers to earn the opportunity to participate 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 Combat: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles occur during nighttime, while navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is very enjoyable. I'm always trying to get a jump on a rival and launch a free attack, since all actions occur in real time. Attacks function with recharge periods, indicating both combatants can sometimes attack each other concurrently (and knock each other out at once). It's a lot to get used to at first. Even after playing for nearly thirty hours, I continue to feel that there is plenty to learn in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Placement also plays a significant part in battles since your creatures will follow you around or move to specific locations to perform attacks (some are long-range, whereas others must be up close and personal).

The real-time action makes battles progress so quickly that I often sometimes cycling through moves in the same order, even when this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to pause in Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Creature fights rely on feedback after using an attack, and that data remains visible on screen in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Sometimes, you can't even read it because taking your eyes off your adversary will spell immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, although densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to explore. It is also rich with character, and fully realizes the vision of Pokémon and people living together. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, taking flight when you get near similar to actual city birds obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The monkey trio joyfully cling from lampposts, and insect creatures such as Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on city living is a new direction for the franchise, and a positive change. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose becomes rote over time. You might discover a passage you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and underground routes offer little variety. Although I haven't been to the French capital, the inspiration for Lumiose, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where every district differs, and they're all alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Really Excels

In which Lumiose City truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I loved how Pokémon battles in Sword and Shield occur in football-like stadiums, giving them genuine significance and meaning. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet & Violet happen on a court with few spectators watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You will fight in restaurants with diners observing while they eat. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you will combat in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated base of a certain faction with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Various individual battle locales brim with character missing in the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Comfort of Repetition

Throughout the Royale, along with subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I