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I'm not sure precisely when the custom began, but I consistently call all my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Whether it's a core franchise title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction switches between male and female avatars, featuring black and purple hair. Sometimes their fashion is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this enduring franchise (and one of the most fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're limited to the various school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Titles

Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have transformed between releases, with certain cosmetic, others significant. But at their heart, they stay identical; they're consistently Pokemon to the core. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless gameplay formula some 30 years ago, and has only seriously tried to innovate upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character is now in danger). Across all version, the core mechanics cycle of catching and battling with adorable monsters has remained consistent for almost the same duration as I've been alive.

Shaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, featuring lack of arenas and focus on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several deviations into that formula. It's set entirely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of earlier games. Pokémon are meant to live together alongside humans, trainers and civilians, in ways we've only glimpsed previously.

Even more drastic than that Z-A's live-action battle system. This is where the franchise's almost ideal core cycle undergoes its biggest evolution to date, replacing methodical sequential bouts for something more chaotic. And it's immensely fun, despite I feel ready for another turn-based entry. Although these changes to the traditional Pokémon formula sound like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

Upon first arriving in Lumiose City, any intentions your custom avatar planned as a visitor are discarded; you're immediately recruited by Taunie (for male avatars; Urbain for female characters) to become part of their squad of trainers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Championship is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" progression from earlier titles. But here, you battle several opponents to earn the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you will be promoted to the next rank, with the final objective of achieving the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles take place during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is very entertaining. I'm always attempting to surprise an opponent and unleash a free attack, because everything happens instantaneously. Moves function with recharge periods, meaning you and your opponent may occasionally attack each other at the same time (and knock each other out at once). It's much to adjust to at first. Even after playing for nearly thirty hours, I continue to feel like there's plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in methods that work together synergistically. Placement also plays a major role in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or move to specific locations to execute moves (some are long-range, whereas others need to be in close proximity).

The real-time action makes battles go so fast that I find myself repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, even when this amounts to a less effective approach. There's no time to breathe during Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on response after using an attack, and that information is still present on the display in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Sometimes, you cannot process it because taking your eyes off your adversary will spell immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, although tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering unseen stores and elevated areas to explore. It's also rich with character, and fully realizes the concept of Pokémon and people living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away 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 insect creatures like Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Nonetheless, navigating the city grows repetitive over time. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The building design lacks character, and many elevated areas and underground routes provide minimal diversity. Although I haven't been to the French capital, the inspiration for the city, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where no two blocks differs, and all are vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It features tan buildings topped with colored roofs and simply designed terraces.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

In which the city truly stands out, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I adored how Pokémon battles within Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them genuine significance and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet take place in a field with two random people observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. A fancy battle society will invite you to a tournament, and you will combat in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. My favorite location is the beautifully designed headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales brim with character that's absent from the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Comfort of Repetition

During the Royale, along with quelling rogue powered-up creatures and filling the creature index, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I