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I don't recall precisely when the custom started, however I always name all my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Be it a core franchise title or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Glitch switches between male and female avatars, featuring black and purple hair. Sometimes their style is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this long-running franchise (and one of the most fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're limited to the various academic attire designs of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they're always Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokemon Games

Much like my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed across installments, with certain cosmetic, others significant. But at their heart, they stay identical; they're always Pokemon to the core. The developers discovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula approximately 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to innovate upon it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar faces peril). Across every iteration, the fundamental mechanics cycle of capturing and fighting alongside adorable monsters has stayed steady for nearly as long as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, with its absence of gyms and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes into that formula. It takes place entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning journeys of earlier games. Pokemon are intended to live together with people, trainers and civilians, in ways we have merely glimpsed before.

Far more drastic is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the series' almost ideal gameplay loop undergoes its biggest evolution yet, swapping methodical sequential bouts for something more chaotic. And it is immensely fun, even as I feel eager for another traditional entry. Though these alterations to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they create an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

When first arriving in Lumiose City, whatever plans your created character planned as a visitor are discarded; you're promptly recruited by the female guide (for male avatars; Urbain for female characters) to join her team of trainers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your starter and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" progression of past games. But here, you battle a handful of trainers to earn the opportunity to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you will be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of achieving the top rank.

Real-Time Combat: A New Approach

Character fights take place at night, while navigating stealthily the assigned combat areas is quite entertaining. I'm constantly attempting to get a jump on a rival and unleash an unopposed move, because all actions occur in real time. Moves operate on recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent can sometimes attack each other concurrently (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's much to adjust to initially. Despite playing for nearly thirty hours, I continue to feel like there's plenty to learn regarding using my Pokémon's moves in ways that work together synergistically. Placement also factors as a major role during combat since your creatures will follow you around or go to designated spots to perform attacks (some are long-range, whereas others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles progress so quickly that I find myself repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, even when this results in a less effective approach. There isn't moment to breathe in Z-A, and numerous opportunities to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles depend on feedback after using an attack, and that data remains visible on the display within Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your opponent will result in immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's relatively small, although densely packed. Far into the adventure, I continue to find new shops and rooftops to visit. It's also rich with character, and perfectly captures the vision of creatures and humans living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, taking flight when you get near similar to actual city birds obstructing my path when walking through NYC. The monkey trio gleefully hang from lampposts, and insect creatures such as Kakuna cling on branches.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive over time. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The building design lacks character, and most rooftops and underground routes offer little variety. Although I never visited Paris, the inspiration for Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a city where no two blocks differs, and all are alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It has beige structures with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

Where the city truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I adored the way creature fights in Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, giving them real weight and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen on a court with few spectators observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You'll battle in eateries with diners observing as they dine. An elite combat club 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 elegantly decorated base of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Several distinct battle locales brim with character missing in the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Comfort of Repetition

Throughout the Championship, along with quelling rogue powered-up creatures and completing the creature index, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I