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I don't recall exactly how the tradition began, but I consistently call every one of my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Be it a core franchise game or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Glitch switches between male and female avatars, with black and purple hair. Occasionally their fashion is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in the enduring series (and one of the more fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're confined to the assorted school uniform designs from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they're always Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokemon Games

Similar to my trainers, the Pokemon titles have transformed between releases, with certain superficial, some significant. But at their heart, they stay identical; they're consistently Pokemon through and through. Game Freak discovered an almost flawless gameplay formula some 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to innovate on it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Across every version, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and battling with adorable monsters has stayed consistent for almost the same duration as I've been alive.

Shaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and focus on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple deviations to that formula. It takes place completely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of previous games. Pokémon are meant to live together alongside humans, battlers and non-trainers alike, in manners we've only glimpsed previously.

Even more drastic is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the franchise's near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its most significant transformation to date, replacing methodical turn-based fights with something more chaotic. And it's immensely fun, despite I feel eager for another traditional release. Though these alterations to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they form a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character planned as a visitor are discarded; you're promptly enlisted by the female guide (if playing as a male character; 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 to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement of past games. However here, you fight several trainers to gain the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you will be promoted to the next rank, with the final objective of achieving rank A.

Live-Action Combat: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles occur at night, and navigating stealthily the assigned battle zones is very entertaining. I'm always attempting to get a jump on a rival and unleash a free attack, since everything happens instantaneously. Moves function with cooldown timers, meaning both combatants may occasionally attack each other at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's a lot to adjust to initially. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel that there is much to master in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in ways that work together synergistically. Placement also plays a significant part in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to designated spots to perform attacks (some are long-range, whereas others must be in close proximity).

The real-time action causes fights progress so quickly that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in the same order, despite this amounts to a less effective approach. There's no time to breathe during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on response post-move execution, and that information is still present on screen in Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Sometimes, you cannot process it because diverting attention from your adversary will spell certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's relatively small, although tightly filled. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering unseen stores and rooftops to visit. It is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, taking flight when you get near similar to actual pigeons getting in my way while strolling through NYC. The monkey trio gleefully hang from lampposts, and insect creatures like Kakuna cling on branches.

An emphasis on city living is a new direction for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive eventually. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The building design lacks character, and many elevated areas and underground routes offer little variety. While I haven't been to the French capital, the model behind Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a city where every district differs, and they're all alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Really Excels

Where the city truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored how Pokémon battles within Sword and Shield occur in football-like stadiums, providing them genuine significance and importance. Conversely, fights within Scarlet & Violet happen on a court with few spectators watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You'll battle in eateries with patrons watching as they dine. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a competition, and you'll battle on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Several distinct combat settings brim with character missing in the larger city as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Championship, as well as subduing wild powered-up creatures and filling the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I