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I'm not sure exactly how the tradition began, but I consistently call every one of my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Be it a main series title or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Glitch switches from male to female avatars, with dark and violet locks. Occasionally their fashion is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in this enduring series (and one of the more fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're confined to the various school uniform designs from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they're always Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Titles

Similar to my characters, the Pokemon titles have evolved across installments, some superficial, some substantial. But at their heart, they remain the same; they're consistently Pokemon to the core. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect mechanics system approximately 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to evolve on it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Across every version, the fundamental mechanics cycle of capturing and fighting alongside charming creatures has remained steady for nearly the same duration as I've been alive.

Breaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, with its lack of arenas and focus on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple changes into that formula. It's set completely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the expansive journeys of earlier games. Pokemon are meant to live together with people, trainers and civilians, in ways we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Far more radical is Z-A's live-action battle system. This is where the franchise's near-perfect gameplay loop undergoes its biggest transformation to date, replacing deliberate sequential bouts with more frenetic action. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, despite I feel eager for another traditional entry. Though these alterations to the classic Pokemon recipe sound like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character had as a tourist get abandoned; you're promptly enlisted by Taunie (if playing as a male character; the male guide for female characters) to join her team of battlers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your first partner and are sent into the Z-A Championship.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement from earlier titles. But here, you fight several opponents to gain the opportunity to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you'll be promoted to the next rank, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Live-Action Combat: A New Approach

Character fights take place during nighttime, while sneaking around the designated combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm always attempting to get a jump on a rival and launch an unopposed move, because everything happens in real time. Attacks function with recharge periods, meaning you and your opponent can sometimes attack each other concurrently (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's a lot to get used to initially. Despite gaming for almost thirty hours, I continue to feel that there is much to master in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in methods that work together synergistically. Placement also factors as a significant part during combat as your Pokémon will follow you around or go to designated spots to execute moves (certain ones are distant, whereas others need to be up close and personal).

The real-time action makes battles progress so quickly that I often sometimes cycling of attacks in the same order, despite this results in a less effective approach. There's no time to pause in Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to become swamped. Creature fights rely on response after using an attack, and that information is still present on screen within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it because diverting attention from your opponent will spell certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, although tightly filled. Deep into the game, I continue to find unseen stores and rooftops to explore. It is also rich with character, and fully realizes the concept of creatures and humans living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away as you approach like the real-life city birds obstructing my path when walking through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang on streetlights, and insect creatures such as Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

An emphasis on city living is a new direction for the franchise, and a welcome one. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote eventually. You might discover an alley you never visited, but it feels identical. The architecture is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and underground routes offer little variety. Although I haven't been to Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a city where no two blocks are the same, and they're all vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has beige structures with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

Where the city really shines, surprisingly, is indoors. I adored how Pokémon battles in Sword and Shield take place in arena-like venues, giving them real weight and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet take place on a court with two random people watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You'll battle in eateries with patrons watching as they dine. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a competition, and you will combat in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated base of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Various individual battle locales overflow with personality missing in the larger city as a whole.

The Comfort of Routine

During the Royale, as well as quelling rogue powered-up creatures and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I