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I'm not sure precisely when the custom began, however I consistently call all my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Whether it's a core franchise game or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Malfunction alternates between male and female avatars, with dark and violet locks. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in this long-running series (and among the most style-conscious entries). Other times they're confined to the assorted academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokémon Titles

Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have evolved between releases, some cosmetic, some substantial. However at their core, they stay identical; they're always Pokémon to the core. The developers discovered an almost flawless gameplay formula some 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to innovate upon it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout all iteration, the fundamental mechanics cycle of capturing and fighting with charming creatures has stayed consistent for almost the same duration as my lifetime.

Breaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and emphasis on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple deviations into that formula. It takes place entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning journeys of earlier titles. Pokémon are meant to live together with humans, battlers and civilians, in manners we've only glimpsed previously.

Even more radical is Z-A's real-time battle system. This is where the franchise's near-perfect core cycle experiences its biggest transformation to date, replacing methodical sequential fights with something more chaotic. And it is immensely fun, despite I feel eager for a new traditional entry. Though these changes to the traditional Pokémon formula sound like they form a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

Upon initially reaching in Lumiose City, whatever plans your created character had as a tourist get abandoned; you're immediately recruited by Taunie (if playing as a male character; the male guide for female characters) to become part of their squad of battlers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your starter and you're dispatched into the Z-A Championship.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement of past games. But here, you battle a handful of trainers to earn the chance to compete in a promotion match. Succeed and you will be promoted to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of achieving the top rank.

Real-Time Battles: A New Approach

Trainer battles take place during nighttime, while navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is quite entertaining. I'm always attempting to get a jump on an opponent and launch a free attack, since everything happens in real time. Moves operate on recharge periods, meaning both combatants can sometimes attack each other concurrently (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's a lot to get used to initially. Even after playing for nearly 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 significant part during combat as your Pokémon will follow you around or move to designated spots to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others must be up close and personal).

The real-time action makes battles go so fast that I often repeating sequences of attacks in identical patterns, despite this results in a less effective approach. There's no time to pause during Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on feedback post-move execution, and that data is still present on screen within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Sometimes, you can't even read it because taking your eyes off your opponent will result in certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, although densely packed. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering unseen stores and rooftops to visit. It's also rich with character, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, flying away when you get near similar to actual city birds getting in my way when walking in New York City. The monkey trio joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures such as Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

A focus on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city grows repetitive eventually. You may stumble upon an alley you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The building design lacks character, and most rooftops and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. Although I haven't been to Paris, the inspiration for the city, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where no two blocks are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and simply designed balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Really Excels

In which the city truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights in Sword and Shield occur in football-like stadiums, giving them real weight and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet & Violet take place on a court with two random people observing. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You'll battle in restaurants with diners observing as they dine. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Several distinct combat settings overflow with personality that's absent from the larger city as a whole.

The Comfort of Routine

During the Championship, as well as quelling rogue powered-up creatures and filling the Pokédex, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I