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I'm not sure exactly how the tradition began, however I consistently call all my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Whether it's a core franchise title or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Glitch switches between male and female avatars, with black and purple hair. Sometimes their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in the long-running franchise (and one of the most style-conscious releases). Other times they're limited to the various academic attire designs of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Games

Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have evolved between installments, some cosmetic, some substantial. But at their core, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokemon to the core. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula some 30 years ago, and has only seriously tried to evolve on it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout all iteration, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and fighting with adorable monsters has remained consistent for nearly the same duration as my lifetime.

Breaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, with its absence of gyms and emphasis on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several deviations to that framework. It's set completely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the expansive adventures of previous games. Pokémon are intended to live together with humans, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely glimpsed before.

Far more radical is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the series' almost ideal core cycle undergoes its most significant transformation yet, replacing deliberate sequential fights with more frenetic action. And it is immensely fun, despite I find myself ready for a new turn-based entry. Though these alterations to the classic Pokémon formula seem like they form an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

Upon initially reaching in Lumiose City, whatever plans your custom avatar had as a tourist are discarded; you're promptly recruited by Taunie (for male avatars; the male guide if female) to join her team of battlers. You're gifted a creature from them as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement of past games. But here, you fight several opponents to earn the opportunity to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you'll be elevated to the next rank, with the final objective of achieving rank A.

Real-Time Combat: A New Frontier

Trainer battles take place at night, and sneaking around the assigned battle zones is very enjoyable. I'm always trying to surprise a rival and unleash a free attack, because all actions occur instantaneously. Moves operate on recharge periods, meaning both combatants can sometimes attack each other at the same time (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's much to adjust to initially. Despite playing for nearly thirty hours, I continue to feel that there is much to master regarding using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Positioning also plays a significant part during combat as your Pokémon will follow you around or move to specific locations to execute moves (certain ones are distant, whereas others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat makes battles go so fast that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in the same order, even when this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to breathe in Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on feedback post-move execution, and that information remains visible on screen in Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it because 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, though densely packed. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering unseen stores and elevated areas to explore. It is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near like the real-life pigeons getting in my way while strolling in New York City. The monkey trio gleefully hang from lampposts, and insect creatures like Kakuna cling to trees.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a welcome one. Even so, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive over time. You may stumble upon a passage you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture lacks character, and most rooftops and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I never visited the French capital, the inspiration for the city, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a city where every district are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It has beige structures topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

In which Lumiose City truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I loved the way creature fights in Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them real weight and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet & Violet take place in a field with two random people watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You'll battle in eateries with diners observing as they dine. An elite combat club will invite you to a competition, and you will combat in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not Chandelure) suspended overhead. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated headquarters of a certain faction with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Various individual combat settings brim with character missing in the larger city as a whole.

The Familiarity of Repetition

Throughout the Championship, along with quelling rogue powered-up creatures and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I