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I don't recall precisely when the custom started, but I consistently call all my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Be it a main series title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Malfunction alternates from male to female characters, featuring black and purple locks. Occasionally their style is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this long-running series (and one of the most fashion-focused entries). Other times they're confined to the assorted school uniform designs from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they remain Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokémon Titles

Much like my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed across releases, some superficial, others significant. But at their heart, they stay identical; they're always Pokémon to the core. Game Freak discovered an almost flawless gameplay formula some 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to evolve upon it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character is now in danger). Throughout every version, the core gameplay loop of catching and fighting alongside charming creatures has remained consistent for nearly as long as my lifetime.

Breaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and emphasis on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes to that framework. It takes place completely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of previous games. Pokémon are meant to live together with people, trainers and non-trainers alike, in ways we've only glimpsed previously.

Even more drastic than that Z-A's real-time battle system. This is where the franchise's almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its most significant transformation to date, replacing deliberate sequential bouts for something more chaotic. And it is immensely fun, even as I find myself ready for a new traditional entry. Though these alterations to the traditional Pokémon formula seem like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

Upon first arriving in Lumiose City, any intentions your created character planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're immediately enlisted by Taunie (for male avatars; Urbain for female characters) to join their squad of battlers. You receive a creature from them as your first partner and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Championship is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" progression from earlier titles. However here, you battle several trainers to earn the opportunity to participate in a promotion match. Win and you'll be promoted to the next rank, with the final objective of achieving the top rank.

Real-Time Combat: An Innovative Frontier

Trainer battles take place at night, and sneaking around the assigned battle zones is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to get a jump on an opponent and launch a free attack, because all actions occur instantaneously. Attacks function with cooldown timers, meaning you and your opponent can sometimes attack each other concurrently (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's a lot to adjust to initially. Despite gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel like there's plenty to learn in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in ways that work together synergistically. Placement also factors as a major role during combat since your creatures will trail behind you or move to specific locations to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles go so fast that I often repeating sequences through moves in the same order, even when this amounts to a less effective approach. There's no time to pause during Z-A, and numerous chances to become swamped. Creature fights rely on feedback post-move execution, and that information is still present on screen within Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it because taking your eyes off your adversary will result in certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, though densely packed. Far into the adventure, I continue to find unseen stores and rooftops to explore. It is also full of charm, and fully realizes the concept of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, flying away as you approach like the real-life pigeons getting in my way while strolling through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling from lampposts, and insect creatures like Kakuna cling on branches.

An emphasis on city living represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Even so, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive eventually. 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 inspiration for the city, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a city where every district are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

In which the city truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I adored the way creature fights within Sword & Shield occur in football-like stadiums, giving them genuine significance and importance. Conversely, fights within Scarlet and Violet happen in a field with two random people observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You'll battle in eateries 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) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed base of a certain faction with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales brim with character missing in the larger city in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

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