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I'm not sure precisely when the custom began, however I consistently call all my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Whether it's a main series game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction alternates 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 releases). Other times they're confined to the various school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they're always Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokémon Titles

Much like my characters, the Pokémon games have evolved across releases, with certain cosmetic, others significant. But at their heart, they stay identical; they're consistently Pokemon to the core. Game Freak discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system approximately 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to evolve on it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Across all iteration, the core mechanics cycle of capturing and fighting with charming creatures has stayed consistent for nearly as long as my lifetime.

Breaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, with its lack of arenas and focus on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes into that framework. It takes place entirely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the expansive journeys of earlier games. Pokemon are meant to live together with people, battlers and civilians, in manners we have merely glimpsed previously.

Even more drastic is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the franchise's near-perfect core cycle undergoes its most significant evolution yet, swapping methodical turn-based bouts for more frenetic action. And it's immensely fun, even as I feel eager for a new turn-based entry. Though these alterations to the traditional Pokémon formula sound like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character had as a tourist get abandoned; you're promptly recruited by Taunie (for male avatars; the male guide if female) to become part of their squad of trainers. You're gifted a creature from them as your first partner and are sent into 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" advancement of past games. However here, you fight several trainers to gain the opportunity to participate in a promotion match. Succeed and you will be elevated to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Combat: An Innovative Frontier

Character fights occur during nighttime, while sneaking around the designated battle zones is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly attempting to surprise an opponent and unleash a free attack, since all actions occur instantaneously. Moves operate on recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent can sometimes strike simultaneously concurrently (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's much to get used to at first. Despite gaming for almost thirty hours, I still feel like there's plenty to learn regarding using my Pokémon's moves in methods that work together synergistically. Positioning also factors as a major role in battles since your creatures will trail behind you or move to designated spots to execute moves (some are long-range, while others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat causes fights go so fast that I often sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, despite this results in a less effective approach. There's no time to pause during Z-A, and plenty of chances to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles depend on feedback post-move execution, and that data remains visible on the display in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since taking your eyes off your opponent will result in certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, although densely packed. Deep into the game, I continue to find new shops and rooftops to explore. It is also full of charm, and fully realizes the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, flying away as you approach similar to actual city birds obstructing my path when walking through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang on streetlights, and insect creatures such as Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

A focus on urban life is a new direction for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Even so, navigating the city grows repetitive over time. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The building design is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and sewer paths offer little variety. Although I haven't been to Paris, the inspiration for the city, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where no two blocks differs, and all are alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It has tan buildings topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

In which the city truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights in Sword & Shield occur in arena-like venues, giving them genuine significance and meaning. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet & Violet take place in a field with few spectators watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You'll battle in eateries with patrons watching as they dine. A fancy battle society will invite you to a competition, and you will combat on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated base of a certain faction with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Several distinct combat settings brim with character missing in the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Familiarity of Repetition

Throughout the Royale, along with subduing wild powered-up creatures and filling the Pokédex, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I