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I don't recall precisely when the tradition began, however I always name every one of my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Be it a core franchise title or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Glitch switches between male and female characters, featuring dark and violet locks. Occasionally their style is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in this long-running series (and one of the more fashion-focused releases). Other times they're confined to the assorted school uniform styles of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they remain Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokemon Games

Similar to my characters, the Pokemon titles have evolved between releases, some cosmetic, some substantial. However at their core, 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 seriously tried to evolve on it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Across every version, the core mechanics cycle of catching and fighting with charming creatures has stayed steady for almost as long as I've been alive.

Shaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and focus on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple deviations to that formula. It takes place completely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the expansive adventures of previous games. Pokémon are intended to live together alongside humans, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we've only seen glimpses of previously.

Far more radical than that Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. It's here the series' near-perfect core cycle experiences its biggest evolution to date, swapping deliberate turn-based bouts with more frenetic action. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, even as I feel ready for a new traditional entry. Although these alterations to the classic Pokemon recipe sound like they form an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

When initially reaching in Lumiose City, any intentions your custom avatar planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly recruited by Taunie (if playing as a male character; the male guide if female) to join her team of battlers. You're gifted a creature from them 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 similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement from earlier titles. However here, you battle several opponents to gain the chance to compete in a promotion match. Win and you'll be promoted to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of achieving the top rank.

Real-Time Battles: An Innovative Frontier

Character fights take place during nighttime, while navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is very enjoyable. I'm always attempting to get a jump on a rival and launch a free attack, since all actions occur instantaneously. Attacks function with recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent 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. Even after playing for nearly 30 hours, I continue to feel like there's plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in ways that work together synergistically. Positioning also plays a significant part in battles as your Pokémon will follow you around or move to specific locations to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat causes fights progress so quickly that I find myself repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to breathe in Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles depend on response post-move execution, and that data remains visible on the display within Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since taking your eyes off your adversary will result in certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, although tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I continue to find new shops and elevated areas to explore. It's also rich with character, and fully realizes the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near like the real-life city birds getting in my way while strolling in New York City. The monkey trio gleefully hang on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna cling on branches.

An emphasis on city living represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote eventually. You may stumble upon an alley you never visited, but it feels identical. The building design lacks character, and many elevated areas and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I never visited Paris, the model behind the city, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where no two blocks differs, and all are vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and simply designed terraces.

Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

In which Lumiose City really shines, oddly enough, is indoors. I loved the way creature fights in Sword & Shield take place in football-like stadiums, giving them real weight and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen in a field with two random people watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You'll battle in restaurants with diners observing as they dine. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a competition, and you will combat on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. My favorite location is the beautifully designed headquarters of a certain faction with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct combat settings overflow with personality missing in the larger city as a whole.

The Comfort of Routine

During the Championship, along with subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I