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I'm not sure exactly how the custom started, but I always name every one of 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. Glitch alternates from male to female avatars, with dark and violet locks. Sometimes their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in the long-running series (and one of the more style-conscious releases). At other moments they're confined to the various academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Games

Much like my characters, the Pokemon titles have transformed between installments, some cosmetic, others substantial. But at their heart, they stay identical; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. The developers discovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula approximately three decades back, and has only truly attempted to evolve upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character is now in danger). Throughout every iteration, the core gameplay loop of capturing and battling alongside charming creatures has remained steady for almost as long as I've been alive.

Breaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and emphasis on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple deviations into that formula. It's set entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X and Y, ditching the region-spanning journeys of earlier games. Pokemon are intended to coexist alongside people, trainers and civilians, in ways we have merely glimpsed before.

Even more drastic than that Z-A's real-time battle system. It's here the series' near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its most significant evolution to date, swapping deliberate turn-based fights for more frenetic action. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, even as I feel ready for another traditional entry. Though these alterations to the classic Pokemon recipe sound like they form an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

Upon first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your custom avatar had as a tourist get abandoned; you're immediately recruited by the female guide (for male avatars; 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 to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Championship is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement of past games. However here, you battle several opponents to earn the opportunity to compete in a promotion match. Succeed and you will be elevated to the next rank, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Combat: A New Approach

Character fights occur during nighttime, and sneaking around the designated battle zones is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly attempting to surprise an opponent and unleash an unopposed move, since all actions occur instantaneously. Moves operate on recharge periods, indicating both combatants may occasionally attack each other at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's a lot to get used to at first. Despite gaming for almost thirty hours, I continue to feel like there's much to master in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in ways that work together synergistically. Positioning also plays a significant part during combat as your Pokémon will follow you around or move to designated spots to execute moves (certain ones are distant, whereas others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat causes fights progress so quickly that I find myself repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, even when this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to breathe during Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles depend on response after using an attack, and that information remains visible on screen in Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your opponent will spell immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, although tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I continue to find new shops and elevated areas to explore. It is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the vision of creatures and humans living together. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, flying away as you approach similar to actual pigeons getting in my way while strolling through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

An emphasis on city living is a new direction for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Even so, exploring Lumiose becomes rote over time. You may stumble upon a passage you never visited, but it feels identical. The building design is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. Although I haven't been to the French capital, the inspiration for Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a city where every district differs, and all are vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has tan buildings topped with colored roofs and simply designed terraces.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

Where Lumiose City truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights within Sword & Shield occur in football-like stadiums, giving them real weight and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet & Violet take place on a court with few spectators watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You will fight in eateries with diners observing as they dine. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you will combat in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. My favorite location is the beautifully designed headquarters of a certain faction with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales overflow with personality that's absent from the larger city in general.

The Familiarity of Repetition

Throughout the Royale, as well as quelling rogue powered-up creatures and filling the creature index, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I