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I'm not sure precisely when the tradition began, however I always name every one of my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Glitch switches from male to female avatars, featuring dark and violet hair. Occasionally their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this enduring series (and among the most fashion-focused entries). Other times they're confined to the various school uniform designs of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they're always Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Games

Similar to my characters, the Pokemon titles have evolved between installments, some superficial, others substantial. But at their heart, they stay the same; they're always Pokémon to the core. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula some 30 years ago, and has only seriously tried to innovate on it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Across every iteration, the fundamental mechanics cycle of capturing and battling with adorable monsters has stayed steady for nearly as long as I've been alive.

Shaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, with its absence of gyms and emphasis on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple changes into that formula. It takes place completely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the region-spanning journeys of previous titles. Pokemon are meant to live together alongside humans, trainers and civilians, in ways we've only seen glimpses of before.

Far more drastic is Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. This is where the series' near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its biggest transformation to date, swapping deliberate turn-based bouts with more frenetic action. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, even as I find myself eager for another turn-based entry. Though these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe sound like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character had as a tourist are discarded; you're promptly enlisted by the female guide (for male avatars; Urbain for female characters) to join her team of trainers. You receive a creature from them as your starter and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Championship is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement from earlier titles. However here, you battle several trainers to gain the opportunity to compete in a promotion match. Win and you'll be promoted to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Battles: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles occur during nighttime, while navigating stealthily the designated battle zones is very enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to get a jump on a rival and unleash a free attack, because all actions occur in real time. Attacks operate on cooldown timers, indicating you and your opponent can sometimes strike simultaneously concurrently (and knock each other out at once). It's a lot to adjust to initially. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel like there's much to master regarding employing my creatures' attacks in ways that complement each other. Placement also factors as a significant part in battles as your Pokémon will follow you around or move to designated spots to perform attacks (some are long-range, while others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles progress so quickly that I often sometimes cycling through moves in identical patterns, despite this amounts to a less effective approach. There's no time to pause in Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on response after using an attack, and that data is still present on the display within Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your opponent will result in immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's relatively small, though tightly filled. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to visit. It is also full of charm, and fully realizes the vision of Pokémon and people coexisting. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, taking flight as you approach similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures such as Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

A focus on city living is a new direction for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city grows repetitive eventually. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The building design lacks character, and most rooftops and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I haven't been to the French capital, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a city 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 tan buildings with blue or red roofs and simply designed balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Really Excels

Where the city really shines, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights within Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, giving them real weight and meaning. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen in a field with few spectators watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You will fight in restaurants 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 under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Various individual battle locales brim with character that's absent from the larger city in general.

The Comfort of Routine

Throughout the Royale, along with subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the Pokédex, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I