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I don't recall precisely when the custom began, however I always name all my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Whether it's a main series title or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Malfunction switches between male and female characters, featuring black and purple locks. Occasionally their style is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in the enduring series (and among the most style-conscious releases). Other times they're limited to the assorted school uniform designs of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they remain Glitch.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Games

Similar to my characters, the Pokémon games have evolved between installments, some cosmetic, others significant. But at their core, they remain the same; they're always Pokémon through and through. Game Freak discovered an almost flawless mechanics system some 30 years ago, and has only seriously tried to evolve on it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout every iteration, the core gameplay loop of catching and battling alongside charming creatures has stayed consistent for almost the same duration as I've been alive.

Breaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and emphasis on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several changes to that framework. It takes place entirely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the expansive adventures of previous games. Pokémon are meant to live together with humans, battlers and civilians, in manners we've only seen glimpses of before.

Far more drastic is Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. This is where the franchise's near-perfect gameplay loop undergoes its biggest evolution yet, replacing deliberate turn-based fights for something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, even as I find myself eager for a new traditional release. Though these alterations to the classic Pokémon formula sound like they form an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

When initially reaching in Lumiose City, any intentions your custom avatar planned as a visitor are discarded; you're promptly enlisted by the female guide (for male avatars; the male guide for female characters) to join her team of trainers. You receive a creature from them as your starter and are sent into the Z-A Championship.

The Championship is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" progression of past games. However here, you battle several opponents to earn the chance to participate in an advancement bout. Win and you will be promoted to a higher tier, with the final objective of achieving rank A.

Real-Time Combat: An Innovative Frontier

Character fights occur at night, while sneaking around the assigned battle zones is quite entertaining. I'm always attempting to get a jump on an opponent and unleash a free attack, since all actions occur instantaneously. Moves function with cooldown timers, indicating both combatants can sometimes attack each other at the same time (and knock each other out at once). It's much to get used to at first. Despite playing for nearly thirty hours, I continue to feel that there is much to master in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in methods that work together synergistically. Positioning also plays a major role in battles since your creatures will trail behind you or move to designated spots to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles progress so quickly that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, even when this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to breathe in Z-A, and plenty of chances 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 quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since taking your eyes off your adversary will result in immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, though tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I continue to find unseen stores and rooftops to visit. It is also rich with character, and fully realizes the concept of creatures and humans living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, taking flight as you approach like the real-life city birds obstructing my path while strolling through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna cling on branches.

An emphasis on city living represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a welcome one. Even so, exploring Lumiose becomes rote over time. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture lacks character, and most rooftops and underground routes offer little variety. While I haven't been to Paris, the model behind the city, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where no two blocks are the same, and they're all vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and simply designed balconies.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Really Excels

In which Lumiose City truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I adored the way creature fights in Sword and Shield take place in arena-like venues, giving them real weight and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet take place on a court with few spectators watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a competition, and you'll battle on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) hanging above. My favorite location is the beautifully designed base of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Various individual combat settings overflow with personality missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Comfort of Routine

During the Championship, as well as quelling rogue powered-up creatures and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I