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I'm not sure exactly how the custom began, however I always name every one of my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Whether it's a core franchise title or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Malfunction switches between male and female avatars, featuring dark and violet locks. Occasionally their fashion is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in the long-running series (and one of the more fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're confined to the various school uniform designs of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Titles

Much like my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed across installments, with certain superficial, some substantial. But at their core, they remain the same; they're always Pokémon through and through. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless gameplay formula approximately 30 years ago, and just recently truly attempted to evolve upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character faces peril). Throughout every iteration, the fundamental gameplay loop of catching and fighting with adorable monsters has remained steady for nearly as long as my lifetime.

Breaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, with its lack of arenas and emphasis on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple deviations into that formula. It takes place entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the expansive adventures of earlier games. Pokemon are meant to live together alongside humans, battlers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Even more radical is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the franchise's near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its most significant transformation yet, replacing methodical turn-based fights with something more chaotic. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, even as I feel eager for another traditional release. Though these changes to the traditional Pokemon recipe seem like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

When initially reaching in Lumiose City, whatever plans your custom avatar had as a tourist get abandoned; you're promptly enlisted by Taunie (if playing as a male character; Urbain if female) to join their squad of trainers. You're gifted a creature from them 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 "gym badges to Elite Four" progression of past games. However here, you fight a handful of trainers to gain the chance to participate in a promotion match. Win and you will be elevated to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of achieving the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: A New Approach

Trainer battles take place at night, and sneaking around the assigned battle zones is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to surprise a rival and unleash an unopposed move, since everything happens instantaneously. Attacks function with recharge periods, meaning both combatants can sometimes attack each other 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 using my Pokémon's moves in methods that work together synergistically. Placement also plays a major role in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or move to designated spots to execute moves (certain ones are distant, whereas others must be in close proximity).

The real-time action causes fights progress so quickly that I often repeating sequences of attacks in identical patterns, despite this results in a less effective approach. There's no time to pause in Z-A, and numerous opportunities to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles rely on feedback post-move execution, and that data remains visible on the display within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it because diverting attention from your opponent will spell immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, although tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering new shops and rooftops to visit. It is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the vision of creatures and humans coexisting. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, taking flight when you get near similar to actual pigeons getting in my way when walking through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna cling to trees.

A focus on urban life is a new direction for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive eventually. You may stumble upon a passage you haven't been to, 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 model behind the city, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where every district differs, and all are alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It has tan buildings topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

Where the city really shines, surprisingly, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights within Sword and Shield occur in arena-like venues, giving them real weight and importance. Conversely, fights within Scarlet and Violet happen on a court with few spectators observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You will fight in eateries with diners observing while they eat. A fancy battle society 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 magenta walls. Various individual battle locales brim with character that's absent from the larger city in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

During the Royale, along with subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I