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I don't recall exactly how the tradition started, however I always name all my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series title or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Glitch switches between male and female avatars, with dark and violet hair. Sometimes their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in the enduring franchise (and among the most style-conscious entries). At other moments they're limited to the assorted school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they're always Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokémon Games

Similar to my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed between installments, with certain superficial, others substantial. However at their core, they remain the same; they're always Pokemon to the core. Game Freak discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system approximately 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to evolve on it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character is now in danger). Throughout all iteration, the fundamental mechanics cycle of catching and battling alongside charming creatures has stayed consistent for nearly the same duration as I've been alive.

Breaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, with its absence of gyms and emphasis on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several deviations to that formula. It takes place entirely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the expansive adventures of previous titles. Pokemon are meant to live together alongside people, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we've only seen glimpses of before.

Far more radical is Z-A's real-time battle system. It's here the franchise's near-perfect gameplay loop undergoes its most significant transformation yet, swapping deliberate turn-based bouts with more frenetic action. And it is immensely fun, even as I feel eager for another turn-based release. Though these alterations to the classic Pokémon formula sound like they create an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

Upon initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your custom avatar had as a tourist are discarded; you're immediately enlisted by the female guide (for male avatars; Urbain for female characters) to become part of her team of battlers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your starter and are sent into the Z-A Royale.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" progression from earlier titles. However here, you battle several opponents to gain the opportunity to compete in a promotion match. Succeed and you will be promoted to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of reaching the top rank.

Live-Action Battles: An Innovative Frontier

Character fights take place during nighttime, while sneaking around the designated combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to surprise an opponent and launch an unopposed move, because all actions occur instantaneously. Attacks operate on cooldown timers, meaning you and your opponent can sometimes attack each other concurrently (and defeat each other at once). It's a lot to get used to at first. Despite gaming for almost 30 hours, I continue to feel like there's plenty to learn regarding using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Positioning also plays a major role during combat since your creatures will trail behind you or move to designated spots to execute moves (certain ones are distant, while others must be up close and personal).

The live combat causes fights go so fast that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, despite this results in a less effective approach. There's no time to breathe during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Creature fights depend on feedback post-move execution, and that information remains visible on screen in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Sometimes, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your adversary will result in immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, though densely packed. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to visit. It's also rich with character, and perfectly captures the vision of Pokémon and people living together. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near like the real-life city birds getting in my way while strolling through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling from lampposts, and insect creatures such as Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

A focus on city living represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, navigating the city grows repetitive eventually. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The building design is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and underground routes offer little variety. Although I haven't been to Paris, the model behind the city, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a city where every district are the same, and they're all alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It features tan buildings topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

Where Lumiose City truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights within Sword and Shield occur in arena-like venues, providing them real weight and meaning. Conversely, fights within 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 eateries with patrons watching while they eat. An elite combat club will invite you to a tournament, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Various individual combat settings overflow with personality that's absent from the larger city as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Championship, as well as quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the creature index, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I