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I'm not sure exactly how the custom began, but I always name all my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Be it a main series game or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction switches from male to female avatars, with dark and violet locks. Occasionally their fashion is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in the long-running franchise (and one of the most fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're limited to the various academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokémon Games

Similar to my characters, the Pokémon games have transformed between releases, some superficial, others substantial. However at their core, they stay identical; they're always Pokémon to the core. The developers discovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula some three decades back, and just recently truly attempted to evolve on it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Across all iteration, the fundamental gameplay loop of catching and fighting alongside charming creatures has stayed consistent for almost the same duration as my lifetime.

Breaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, with its absence of gyms and focus on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several changes to that framework. It's set entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the expansive journeys of previous titles. Pokémon are meant to coexist alongside humans, trainers and non-trainers alike, in ways we have merely glimpsed previously.

Even more radical is Z-A's real-time battle system. This is where the franchise's almost ideal gameplay loop undergoes its biggest transformation to date, swapping deliberate turn-based bouts for something more chaotic. And it is immensely fun, even as I feel eager for a new turn-based release. Although these alterations to the traditional Pokémon formula seem like they create a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

Upon first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character had as a tourist are discarded; you're immediately enlisted by the female guide (for male avatars; Urbain if female) to become part of her team of trainers. You're gifted a creature from them as your starter and you're dispatched to participate in 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" progression of past games. But here, you fight several trainers to gain the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you'll be elevated to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of achieving the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: An Innovative Frontier

Character fights take place at night, while sneaking around the assigned battle zones is very enjoyable. I'm always trying to surprise a rival and launch a free attack, since all actions occur in real time. Moves function with cooldown timers, meaning you and your opponent can sometimes strike simultaneously concurrently (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's a lot to get used to at first. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel like there's much to master regarding using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a significant part in battles as your Pokémon will follow you around or move to designated spots to execute moves (certain ones are distant, while others must be in close proximity).

The real-time action makes battles progress so quickly that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, despite this amounts to a less effective approach. There's no time to breathe during Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles depend on response post-move execution, and that data is still present on the display in Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your adversary will result in certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, although densely packed. Far into the adventure, I continue to find unseen stores and rooftops to explore. It's also rich with character, and fully realizes the vision of Pokémon and people living together. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, flying away when you get near like the real-life city birds getting in my way when walking in New York City. The monkey trio joyfully cling on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

A focus on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose becomes rote eventually. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The building design is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and sewer paths offer little variety. While I never visited the French capital, the inspiration for the city, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a city where no two blocks differs, and all are alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It features beige structures with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

In which the city really shines, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I loved the way creature fights within Sword & 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 few spectators observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You'll battle in restaurants with diners observing while they eat. An elite combat club will invite you to a tournament, and you will combat on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. My favorite location is the beautifully designed base of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Various individual battle locales overflow with personality that's absent from the larger city in general.

The Familiarity of Repetition

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