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I'm not sure exactly how the custom began, but I always name every one of my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Be it a core franchise game or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Malfunction switches between male and female avatars, featuring dark and violet locks. Sometimes their style is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this enduring franchise (and one of the more fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're limited to the various school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they remain Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokémon Games

Similar to my characters, the Pokemon titles have transformed between releases, with certain superficial, some significant. However at their heart, they remain identical; they're always Pokémon through and through. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless mechanics system some three decades back, and just recently seriously tried to innovate on it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character is now in danger). Throughout all version, the fundamental mechanics cycle of catching and fighting alongside charming creatures has stayed consistent for nearly as long as I've been alive.

Breaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, with its absence of gyms and emphasis on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes into that formula. It's set entirely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the expansive journeys of earlier games. Pokémon are intended to live together alongside humans, trainers and civilians, in ways we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Far more drastic than that Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. It's here the series' near-perfect gameplay loop undergoes its most significant evolution yet, replacing deliberate turn-based fights for something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, even as I feel ready for a new turn-based entry. Although these changes to the traditional Pokémon formula sound like they form a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

Upon first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your custom avatar planned as a visitor are discarded; you're promptly enlisted by Taunie (if playing as a male character; the male guide for female characters) to join her team of trainers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your starter and are sent into the Z-A Championship.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement from earlier titles. But here, you fight a handful of trainers to gain the opportunity to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you will be promoted to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Battles: An Innovative Frontier

Character fights take place during nighttime, while sneaking around the assigned combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly attempting to get a jump on an opponent and launch a free attack, because all actions occur in real time. Attacks operate on cooldown timers, indicating both combatants can sometimes attack each other at the same time (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's much to adjust to initially. Even after gaming for almost thirty hours, I still feel that there is much to master in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in methods that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a significant part during combat as your Pokémon will follow you around or move to designated spots to execute moves (certain ones are distant, whereas others must be in close proximity).

The live combat causes fights 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 in Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on response post-move execution, and that information remains visible on the display within Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Occasionally, you cannot process it because taking your eyes off your adversary will result in certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, although densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to explore. It's also full of charm, and perfectly captures the vision of Pokémon and people coexisting. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away as you approach like the real-life city birds obstructing my path while strolling through NYC. The monkey trio joyfully cling from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna cling on branches.

A focus on urban life is a new direction for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, navigating the city grows repetitive eventually. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I haven't been to Paris, the inspiration for Lumiose, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where no two blocks are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It features beige structures with blue or red roofs and simply designed terraces.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

Where Lumiose City truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I loved the way creature fights within Sword & Shield occur in football-like stadiums, providing them real weight and meaning. Conversely, 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 diners observing as they dine. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) suspended overhead. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated headquarters of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales overflow with personality missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Familiarity of Repetition

Throughout the Championship, as well as subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the creature index, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I