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I don't recall exactly how the tradition started, however I always name all my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Be it a core franchise title or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Glitch switches between male and female avatars, with black and purple hair. Occasionally their fashion is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this long-running series (and one of the more style-conscious releases). At other moments they're confined to the various academic attire designs of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Titles

Similar to my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed between installments, with certain cosmetic, others substantial. However at their heart, they remain the same; they're consistently Pokemon through and through. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some 30 years ago, and has only seriously tried to evolve on it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Across all version, the core mechanics cycle of capturing and battling alongside charming creatures has stayed consistent for nearly as long as my lifetime.

Breaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, with its absence of gyms and focus on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple deviations to that framework. It takes place completely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning journeys of earlier titles. Pokémon are intended to live together alongside humans, trainers and civilians, in ways we've only glimpsed previously.

Even more radical than that Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. This is where the series' near-perfect core cycle undergoes its most significant evolution yet, replacing methodical turn-based fights with something more chaotic. And it's immensely fun, despite I feel ready for a new traditional release. Although these alterations to the classic Pokemon recipe sound like they form a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

When initially reaching in Lumiose City, whatever plans your custom avatar had as a tourist are discarded; you're promptly recruited by the female guide (if playing as a male character; the male guide for female characters) to join her team of battlers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your first partner and you're dispatched into the Z-A Royale.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement from earlier titles. However here, you fight several opponents to gain the opportunity to compete in a promotion match. Win and you will be elevated to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of reaching the top rank.

Live-Action Battles: A New Frontier

Trainer battles take place during nighttime, while sneaking around the designated battle zones is quite entertaining. I'm always attempting to surprise an opponent and unleash an unopposed move, since all actions occur instantaneously. Moves operate on recharge periods, meaning you and your opponent can sometimes attack each other at the same time (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's a lot to adjust to initially. Despite gaming for almost thirty hours, I still feel like there's much to master in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Placement also factors as a major role in battles as your Pokémon will follow you around or go to designated spots to execute moves (some are long-range, while others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat makes battles 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 pause during Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on response after using an attack, and that data is still present on the display in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Sometimes, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your adversary will result in immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's relatively small, though densely packed. Far into the adventure, I continue to find new shops and elevated areas to visit. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the vision of Pokémon and people living together. 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 gleefully hang from lampposts, and insect creatures like Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You may stumble upon a passage you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The building design is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and underground routes provide minimal diversity. While I never visited Paris, the inspiration for the city, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a city where no two blocks are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It features beige structures with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

In which Lumiose City truly stands out, surprisingly, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights within Sword and Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them genuine significance 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 eateries with diners observing as they dine. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you will combat in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed base of a certain faction with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Various individual combat settings overflow with personality that's absent from the larger city in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

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