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I don't recall precisely when the custom started, however I consistently call all my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Be it a main series title or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction switches from male to female avatars, with dark and violet locks. Sometimes their style is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in this long-running franchise (and among the most fashion-focused entries). Other times they're limited to the various school uniform designs from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokémon Titles

Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have evolved across releases, with certain cosmetic, some significant. But at their core, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokémon through and through. The developers discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system approximately three decades back, and just recently seriously tried to innovate upon it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Across all version, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and fighting with adorable monsters has remained steady for nearly the same duration as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, with its lack of arenas and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes to that framework. It takes place completely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the expansive journeys of previous games. Pokemon are intended to coexist alongside people, trainers and non-trainers alike, in ways we've only glimpsed previously.

Even more radical is Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. It's here the series' near-perfect core cycle experiences its biggest evolution yet, swapping deliberate sequential fights for more frenetic action. And it is immensely fun, despite I find myself eager for another turn-based release. Although these changes to the classic Pokémon formula seem like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

Upon initially reaching in Lumiose City, whatever plans your custom avatar had as a tourist get abandoned; you're promptly enlisted by the female guide (if playing as a male character; Urbain for female characters) to join her team of trainers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your first partner and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Royale is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" progression from earlier titles. However here, you battle a handful of opponents to earn the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you'll be promoted to the next rank, with the final objective of achieving rank A.

Live-Action Combat: An Innovative Frontier

Trainer battles occur at night, while navigating stealthily the assigned battle zones is quite entertaining. I'm always attempting to surprise a rival and launch an unopposed move, since all actions occur in real time. Moves operate on cooldown timers, indicating both combatants can sometimes strike simultaneously at the same time (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's much to get used to initially. Despite gaming for almost thirty hours, I continue to feel that there is plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in methods that complement each other. Placement also factors as a major role in battles as your Pokémon will follow you around or go to specific locations to execute moves (some are long-range, whereas others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat causes fights go so fast that I often repeating sequences through moves in the same order, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to pause during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on feedback post-move execution, and that data is still present on screen in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Occasionally, you can't even read it since diverting attention from your adversary will spell immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's relatively small, although tightly filled. Deep into the game, I continue to find new shops and rooftops to explore. It is also full of charm, and perfectly captures the concept of creatures and humans coexisting. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, taking flight as you approach like the real-life city birds obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive over time. You may stumble upon an alley you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The building design lacks character, and many elevated areas and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I haven't been to Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where every district are the same, and they're all alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It has beige structures with blue or red roofs and simply designed balconies.

Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

Where Lumiose City really shines, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored how Pokémon battles within Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, providing them real weight and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet & Violet happen in a field with few spectators observing. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You will fight in restaurants with diners observing while they eat. An elite combat club will invite you to a tournament, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Various individual combat settings brim with character that's absent from the larger city as a whole.

The Comfort of Repetition

During the Championship, along with quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable feeling of, {"I