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I don't recall exactly how the custom started, however I always name all my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Malfunction alternates from male to female characters, with black and purple locks. Sometimes their fashion is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this enduring series (and one of the more style-conscious releases). At other moments they're limited to the assorted school uniform designs from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they remain Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokemon Titles

Much like my trainers, the Pokémon games have evolved between releases, some superficial, some significant. However at their core, they stay the same; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. Game Freak discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system approximately 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to innovate upon it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar faces peril). Throughout all version, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and fighting with adorable monsters has remained steady for almost as long as my lifetime.

Shaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, with its absence of gyms and emphasis on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several deviations into that formula. It takes place entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, ditching the expansive adventures of previous titles. Pokemon are meant to live together alongside humans, battlers and non-trainers alike, in ways we've only seen glimpses of before.

Far more radical is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the series' almost ideal gameplay loop undergoes its most significant evolution yet, replacing deliberate turn-based fights for more frenetic action. And it is immensely fun, even as I find myself ready for another traditional entry. Although these alterations to the classic Pokemon recipe sound like they create a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

When initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your custom avatar planned as a visitor are discarded; you're promptly enlisted by the female guide (if playing as a male character; the male guide for female characters) to join their squad of trainers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Royale is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement of past games. But here, you fight several opponents to gain the opportunity to participate in an advancement bout. Succeed and you'll be elevated to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of achieving the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles occur during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is very entertaining. I'm always trying to surprise an opponent and unleash an unopposed move, because everything happens instantaneously. Moves function with cooldown timers, indicating you and your opponent can sometimes attack each other at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's much to get used to initially. Despite gaming for almost thirty hours, I continue to feel like there's much to master regarding using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Placement also factors as a major role in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or move to specific locations to execute moves (some are long-range, while others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat causes fights go so fast that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in the same order, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and plenty of chances to get overwhelmed. Creature fights rely on feedback after using an attack, and that data is still present on the display within Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Sometimes, you can't even read it since taking your eyes off your adversary will spell immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose City

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's relatively small, though tightly filled. Deep into the game, I continue to find unseen stores and rooftops to explore. It is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people living together. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, flying away as you approach similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The monkey trio gleefully hang on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

An emphasis on city living is a new direction for Pokémon, and a positive change. Even so, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive over time. You might discover an alley you never visited, but it feels identical. The building design lacks character, and most rooftops and underground routes provide minimal diversity. Although I never visited Paris, the inspiration for the city, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where no two blocks are the same, and they're all vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It has beige structures topped with colored roofs and simply designed balconies.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

Where Lumiose City truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I loved the way creature fights in Sword & Shield take place in football-like stadiums, providing them genuine significance and meaning. Conversely, battles in Scarlet & Violet take place in a field with two random people observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You'll battle in eateries with patrons watching while they eat. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a competition, and you'll battle on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) suspended overhead. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated base of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Several distinct battle locales brim with character that's absent from the larger city in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

Throughout the Royale, along with quelling rogue powered-up creatures and completing the creature index, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I