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I'm not sure precisely when the tradition began, but I consistently call every one of my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Glitch alternates between male and female characters, featuring dark and violet locks. Occasionally their fashion is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in this long-running series (and one of the most style-conscious entries). At other moments they're confined to the assorted school uniform styles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they're always Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Titles

Similar to my characters, the Pokemon titles have transformed across installments, with certain superficial, others substantial. However at their heart, they stay the same; they're consistently Pokemon to the core. The developers discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to evolve on it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar faces peril). Across all version, the fundamental mechanics cycle of capturing and battling with charming creatures has stayed steady for nearly the same duration as I've been alive.

Shaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, with its lack of arenas and focus on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple changes to that framework. It takes place entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning adventures of earlier games. Pokemon are meant to live together alongside humans, battlers and civilians, in ways we have merely glimpsed previously.

Far more drastic is Z-A's real-time battle system. This is where the franchise's near-perfect core cycle undergoes its most significant transformation to date, swapping deliberate sequential fights with more frenetic action. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, despite I find myself ready for another turn-based entry. Although these alterations to the traditional Pokémon formula seem like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving in Lumiose City, any intentions your created character planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly recruited by the female guide (if playing as a male character; Urbain for female characters) to join her team of battlers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your first partner and you're dispatched into the Z-A Royale.

The Championship is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" progression of past games. But here, you battle a handful of trainers to earn the opportunity to participate in an advancement bout. Succeed and you'll be promoted to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of achieving the top rank.

Real-Time Battles: A New Frontier

Trainer battles take place during nighttime, while navigating stealthily the designated battle zones is very enjoyable. I'm always trying to surprise a rival and unleash a free attack, because everything happens in real time. Moves function with recharge periods, indicating both combatants can sometimes strike simultaneously at the same time (and defeat each other at once). It's a lot to adjust to at first. Even after playing for nearly thirty hours, I continue to feel like there's plenty to learn in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in methods that complement each other. Placement also factors as a major role during combat since your creatures will follow you around or go to designated spots to execute moves (certain ones are distant, whereas others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles progress so quickly that I often sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, even when this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to pause during Z-A, and numerous chances to become swamped. Creature fights rely on feedback post-move execution, and that data is still present on screen in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Sometimes, you can't even read it because taking your eyes off your opponent will spell immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose City

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, although densely packed. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering unseen stores and rooftops to explore. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, flying away when you get near similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang from lampposts, and insect creatures such as Kakuna cling to trees.

An emphasis on city living represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, navigating the city grows repetitive eventually. You might discover an alley you never visited, but it feels identical. The architecture lacks character, and many elevated areas and underground routes offer little variety. While I haven't been to the French capital, the inspiration for Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a city where every district are the same, and they're all alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It features beige structures with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

Where Lumiose City truly stands out, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I loved how Pokémon battles in Sword and Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them real weight and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet & Violet happen on a court with two random people watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You'll battle in eateries with diners observing as they dine. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a competition, and you'll battle on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Various individual battle locales overflow with personality that's absent from the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Familiarity of Repetition

During the Royale, as well as quelling rogue powered-up creatures and completing the creature index, there is an unavoidable feeling of, {"I