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I don't recall precisely when the custom started, however I always name all my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Whether it's a core franchise game or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Malfunction switches between male and female avatars, with dark and violet hair. Sometimes their fashion is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in the long-running franchise (and among the more style-conscious releases). At other moments they're limited to the assorted academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they're always Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokémon Games

Similar to my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed between releases, with certain cosmetic, some significant. However at their core, they remain the same; they're always Pokemon through and through. Game Freak discovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula some three decades back, and has only seriously tried to evolve upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout every version, the core gameplay loop of capturing and battling with adorable monsters has stayed consistent for almost the same duration as my lifetime.

Breaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, featuring absence of gyms and emphasis on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several changes into that framework. It takes place entirely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning adventures of earlier games. Pokémon are meant to live together with humans, battlers and non-trainers alike, in ways we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Far more drastic is Z-A's live-action battle system. This is where the franchise's near-perfect gameplay loop undergoes its most significant evolution to date, replacing deliberate sequential fights with something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, despite I feel eager for another turn-based release. Though these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

Upon initially reaching in Lumiose City, whatever plans your custom avatar planned as a visitor are discarded; you're promptly recruited by the female guide (for male avatars; the male guide if female) to join their squad of trainers. You're gifted a creature from them as your first partner and are sent into the Z-A Royale.

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

Real-Time Battles: An Innovative Frontier

Character fights occur at night, while sneaking around the assigned combat areas is very entertaining. I'm constantly trying to surprise a rival and launch a free attack, since everything happens in real time. Attacks function with cooldown timers, meaning you and your opponent may occasionally strike simultaneously concurrently (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's much to get used to at first. Even after playing for nearly 30 hours, I still feel like there's plenty to learn regarding using my Pokémon's moves in ways that work together synergistically. Placement also plays a major role in battles as your Pokémon will follow you around or go to specific locations to execute moves (certain ones are distant, while others need to be in close proximity).

The real-time action causes fights go so fast that I find myself sometimes cycling through moves in identical patterns, even when this results in a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to pause during Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles rely on feedback post-move execution, and that information remains visible on screen within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it because diverting attention from your adversary will result in immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, although tightly filled. Deep into the game, I continue to find unseen stores and rooftops to explore. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the vision of creatures and humans coexisting. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, taking flight when you get near similar to actual city birds obstructing my path while strolling in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures like Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

An emphasis on urban life is a new direction for the franchise, and a positive change. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose becomes rote over time. You may stumble upon an alley you never visited, but it feels identical. The building design is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and sewer paths offer little variety. Although I haven't been to Paris, the inspiration for Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where no two blocks differs, and they're all vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It has tan buildings topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

In which Lumiose City truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I loved the way creature fights within Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, providing them genuine significance and importance. Conversely, fights within Scarlet and Violet take place on a court with few spectators observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You'll battle in restaurants with patrons watching as they dine. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you will combat on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated base of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Various individual battle locales brim with character that's absent from the overall metropolis in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

Throughout the Championship, along with subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable feeling of, {"I