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

Whether it's a main series game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Glitch switches from male to female characters, with black and purple locks. Sometimes their fashion is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this enduring franchise (and among the most style-conscious entries). At other moments they're confined to the assorted school uniform designs from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Games

Similar to my trainers, the Pokemon titles have transformed across installments, some superficial, some substantial. However at their core, they remain identical; they're always Pokémon through and through. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless mechanics system approximately 30 years ago, and has only seriously tried to evolve upon it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Across every iteration, the core gameplay loop of catching and fighting with adorable monsters has remained steady for almost as long as my lifetime.

Breaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, featuring lack of arenas and emphasis on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several deviations into that formula. It's set completely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the region-spanning journeys of previous titles. Pokemon are intended to coexist with humans, trainers and civilians, in ways we've only glimpsed previously.

Far more radical than that Z-A's live-action battle system. This is where the series' almost ideal core cycle undergoes its most significant transformation to date, replacing deliberate sequential fights with more frenetic action. And it's immensely fun, even as I find myself eager for a new traditional release. Although these changes to the classic Pokémon formula sound like they create an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your created character had as a tourist get abandoned; you're promptly recruited by Taunie (if playing as a male character; the male guide if female) to join their squad of battlers. 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" advancement from earlier titles. But here, you battle a handful of opponents to earn the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you'll be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Live-Action Combat: A New Frontier

Character fights occur during nighttime, while navigating stealthily the designated battle zones is quite entertaining. I'm always attempting to surprise a rival and unleash an unopposed move, since all actions occur in real time. Moves function with recharge periods, meaning both combatants may occasionally strike simultaneously at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's a lot to adjust to initially. Even after playing for nearly thirty hours, I continue to feel that there is much to master in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a major role during combat as your Pokémon will follow you around or move to specific locations to execute moves (some are long-range, whereas others must be in close proximity).

The real-time action makes battles go so fast that I find myself sometimes cycling through moves in the same order, even when this results in a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to breathe during Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles depend on response after using an attack, and that data remains visible on screen in Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Sometimes, you cannot process it because diverting attention from your opponent will result in certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose City

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, although densely packed. Far into the adventure, I continue to find unseen stores and rooftops to explore. It is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the concept of creatures and humans coexisting. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, flying away when you get near like the real-life city birds getting in my way when walking in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling from lampposts, and insect creatures such as Kakuna cling on branches.

A focus on urban life is a new direction for Pokémon, and a positive change. Nonetheless, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture lacks character, and most rooftops and sewer paths offer little variety. While I never visited the French capital, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a city where every district differs, and all are vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It has tan buildings topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

Where the city really shines, oddly enough, is indoors. I loved how Pokémon battles in Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, providing them genuine significance and meaning. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet take place in a field with two random people observing. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. An elite combat club will invite you to a tournament, and you will combat in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed base of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales brim with character missing in the larger city in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

Throughout the Championship, along with quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the creature index, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I