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I'm not sure precisely when the custom began, but I consistently call all my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Be it a core franchise game or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Glitch switches from male to female avatars, with black and purple locks. Sometimes their fashion is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in the long-running franchise (and among the most fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're confined to the assorted academic attire designs of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Games

Similar to my trainers, the Pokemon titles have evolved between releases, some cosmetic, others substantial. But at their core, they remain the same; they're always Pokémon to the core. The developers discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to innovate upon it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar faces peril). Throughout every iteration, the core mechanics cycle of capturing and battling alongside charming creatures has stayed steady for nearly as long as I've been alive.

Breaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, featuring lack of arenas and emphasis on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple deviations into that framework. It's set completely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X and Y, ditching the expansive adventures of earlier titles. Pokemon are meant to live together with people, trainers and non-trainers alike, in ways we've only glimpsed previously.

Far more drastic is Z-A's live-action battle system. This is where the series' near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its most significant evolution yet, swapping methodical sequential fights for something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, despite I feel eager for another turn-based entry. Though these changes to the classic 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 Journey: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your created character planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly enlisted by the female guide (for male avatars; the male guide if female) to join their squad of trainers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your starter and you're dispatched into the Z-A Royale.

The Championship is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" progression of past games. However here, you fight a handful of opponents to gain the opportunity to participate in a promotion match. Succeed and you'll be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of reaching the top rank.

Live-Action Battles: A New Approach

Trainer battles take place during nighttime, and sneaking around the assigned combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm always attempting to get a jump on a rival and launch a free attack, since all actions occur instantaneously. Moves operate on cooldown timers, meaning both combatants can sometimes attack each other at the same time (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's a lot to get used to initially. Even after gaming for almost thirty hours, I continue to feel that there is plenty to learn regarding using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Positioning also plays a significant part in battles since your creatures will follow you around or go to specific locations to execute moves (some are long-range, whereas others must be up close and personal).

The live combat causes fights go so fast that I find myself repeating sequences through moves in identical patterns, despite this results in a less effective approach. There isn't moment to breathe in Z-A, and plenty of chances to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on feedback post-move execution, and that information remains visible on screen in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Occasionally, you can't even read it since diverting attention from your adversary will result in certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose City

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, although densely packed. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to visit. It is also full of charm, and perfectly captures the vision of Pokémon and people coexisting. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, flying away as you approach like the real-life city birds getting in my way while strolling through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures like Kakuna cling to trees.

An emphasis on city living is a new direction for the franchise, and a welcome one. Even so, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive over time. You might discover an alley you never visited, but it feels identical. The building design lacks character, and many elevated areas and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I never visited Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a city where no two blocks are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It features tan buildings with blue or red roofs and simply designed terraces.

Where The Metropolis Really Excels

Where Lumiose City really shines, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I loved how Pokémon battles within Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, providing them real weight and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen in a field with few spectators watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You'll battle in eateries with diners observing as they dine. An elite combat club 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 beautifully designed base of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales overflow with personality that's absent from the overall metropolis in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

Throughout the Championship, as well as subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I