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I'm not sure precisely when the tradition started, but I always name every one of my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series game or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Glitch switches between male and female characters, with black and purple hair. Occasionally their fashion is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this enduring series (and one of the more fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're limited to the assorted academic attire styles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they're always Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokémon Titles

Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have transformed between installments, with certain cosmetic, others significant. But at their core, they stay identical; they're always Pokemon to the core. The developers discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some three decades back, and has only seriously tried to innovate upon it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Across all iteration, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and battling alongside charming creatures has stayed steady for nearly the same duration as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, featuring lack of arenas and emphasis on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several changes to that formula. It takes place entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of earlier games. Pokémon are intended to coexist with people, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we've only glimpsed before.

Even more radical than that Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. It's here the franchise's near-perfect core cycle experiences its biggest evolution to date, swapping deliberate turn-based bouts with more frenetic action. And it's immensely fun, despite I feel ready for another turn-based release. Although these alterations to the classic Pokemon recipe sound like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving in Lumiose City, whatever plans your custom avatar planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly recruited by Taunie (for male avatars; the male guide for female characters) to join her team of battlers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your starter and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Championship is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement of past games. But here, you fight several opponents to gain the opportunity to participate in a promotion match. Win and you will be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of achieving the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles occur during nighttime, and sneaking around the assigned combat areas is very entertaining. I'm always attempting to surprise a rival and launch an unopposed move, because all actions occur in real time. Moves operate on recharge periods, meaning both combatants can sometimes strike simultaneously at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's much to get used to at first. Even after gaming for almost 30 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 factors as a major role during combat as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to specific locations to perform attacks (some are long-range, whereas others need to be in close proximity).

The real-time action causes fights go so fast that I often sometimes cycling of attacks in the same order, even when this results in a less effective approach. There isn't moment to pause during Z-A, and numerous chances to become swamped. Creature fights depend on feedback post-move execution, and that information is still present on screen within Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Sometimes, you can't even read it because taking your eyes off your adversary will result in immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's relatively small, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I continue to find unseen stores and rooftops to explore. It is also full of charm, and fully realizes the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, taking flight as you approach similar to actual city birds getting in my way when walking through NYC. The monkey trio gleefully hang from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

An emphasis on urban life 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 architecture lacks character, and many elevated areas and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I never visited Paris, the inspiration for Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where every district differs, and all are alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It features beige structures with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Really Excels

In which Lumiose City truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I adored the way creature fights in Sword and Shield occur in football-like stadiums, giving them genuine significance and meaning. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen in a field with few spectators watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You'll battle in eateries with patrons watching while they eat. A fancy battle society will invite you to a competition, and you'll battle 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. Various individual battle locales brim with character missing in the larger city in general.

The Familiarity of Repetition

During the Championship, as well as subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I