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I don't recall precisely when the custom began, but I consistently call every one of my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Whether it's a core franchise game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Glitch switches from male to female characters, featuring black and purple hair. Sometimes their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in this enduring series (and among the more style-conscious releases). Other times they're confined to the various academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they're always Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokemon Titles

Similar to my characters, the Pokemon titles have evolved between installments, some cosmetic, some significant. However at their heart, they remain identical; they're always Pokemon to the core. The developers discovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula some 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to innovate upon it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character is now in danger). Across every iteration, the core gameplay loop of catching and fighting with charming creatures has remained steady for almost as long as my lifetime.

Shaking Conventions 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 deviations to that framework. It's set entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the region-spanning journeys of previous games. Pokemon are meant to coexist alongside people, battlers and non-trainers alike, in ways we have merely glimpsed previously.

Even more radical is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. It's here the series' almost ideal gameplay loop undergoes its most significant evolution yet, replacing methodical sequential fights for something more chaotic. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, despite I find myself ready for another traditional release. Although these changes to the traditional Pokemon recipe sound like they form a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving in Lumiose City, any intentions your custom avatar had as a tourist get abandoned; you're promptly recruited by Taunie (for male avatars; the male guide if female) to join their squad of battlers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your starter and you're dispatched into the Z-A Royale.

The Royale is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" progression of past games. But here, you battle several opponents to earn the opportunity to compete in a promotion match. Win and you will be elevated to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of achieving the top rank.

Real-Time Combat: An Innovative Frontier

Trainer battles occur at night, while navigating stealthily the assigned battle zones is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to surprise a rival and launch a free attack, because all actions occur instantaneously. Attacks function with recharge periods, meaning you and your opponent can sometimes attack each other at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's a lot to adjust to initially. Even after playing for nearly 30 hours, I still feel that there is plenty to learn regarding using my Pokémon's moves in methods that complement each other. Placement also factors as a major role 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 repeating sequences of attacks in identical patterns, even when this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to pause in Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on feedback post-move execution, and that information is still present on screen in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your adversary will spell certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and rooftops to visit. It is also rich with character, and fully realizes the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, taking flight as you approach like the real-life pigeons obstructing my path while strolling in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

A focus on urban life is a new direction for the franchise, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive eventually. You might discover a passage you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The building design lacks character, and many elevated areas and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. Although I haven't been to the French capital, the inspiration for the city, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a city where no two blocks are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It features tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

In which Lumiose City truly stands out, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I adored the way creature fights in Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them genuine significance and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen in a field with two random people watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You will fight in eateries with patrons watching as they dine. An elite combat club will invite you to a competition, and you'll battle on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) hanging above. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated headquarters of a certain faction with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Several distinct combat settings brim with character missing in the larger city as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Championship, along with subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the creature index, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I