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I don't recall exactly how the tradition began, however I always name all my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Be it a main series game or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Glitch switches between male and female avatars, featuring black and purple locks. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in the enduring franchise (and among the more style-conscious releases). At other moments they're limited to the assorted school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they're always Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Titles

Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have evolved across releases, with certain cosmetic, others significant. But at their core, they remain identical; they're always Pokemon to the core. Game Freak discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some three decades back, and has only seriously tried to evolve upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character is now in danger). Throughout every iteration, the core mechanics cycle of capturing and battling alongside charming creatures has remained consistent for almost the same duration as my lifetime.

Breaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, with its absence of gyms and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several deviations to that formula. It's set completely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the expansive adventures of earlier games. Pokémon are meant to coexist with people, trainers and non-trainers alike, in ways we've only seen glimpses of previously.

Even more radical than that Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. It's here the franchise's almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its most significant transformation to date, replacing methodical turn-based fights for something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, even as I feel ready for another traditional release. Though these alterations to the classic Pokémon formula sound like they form a completely new adventure, 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, whatever plans your created character had as a tourist get abandoned; you're immediately recruited by Taunie (for male avatars; Urbain for female characters) to join her team of battlers. You're gifted a creature from them as your starter and you're dispatched into the Z-A Royale.

The Championship is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" progression from earlier titles. However here, you battle several opponents to earn the opportunity to compete in a promotion match. Succeed and you will be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of achieving the top rank.

Live-Action Battles: A New Approach

Trainer battles take place at night, while sneaking around the designated battle zones is quite entertaining. I'm always attempting to get a jump on a rival and launch an unopposed move, because all actions occur in real time. Attacks function with recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent may occasionally attack each other concurrently (and knock each other out at once). It's much to adjust to initially. Despite gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel that there is plenty to learn in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Positioning also plays a major role during combat since your creatures will trail behind you or move to designated spots to execute moves (some are long-range, while others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat causes fights go so fast that I find myself repeating sequences through moves in identical patterns, despite this results in a less effective approach. There's no time to pause in Z-A, and plenty of chances to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles depend on feedback post-move execution, and that information is still present on screen within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Sometimes, you can't even read it because diverting attention from your opponent will result in immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, though tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to explore. It is also full of charm, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people living together. 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 Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling from lampposts, and insect creatures like Kakuna cling to trees.

A focus on city living represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a positive change. Nonetheless, navigating the city grows repetitive over time. You may stumble upon a passage you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The building design 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 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 Metropolis lacks that quality. It has beige structures topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

Where the city truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I loved how Pokémon battles in Sword and Shield occur in football-like stadiums, giving them genuine significance and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet take place in a field with few spectators watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a competition, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated base of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Various individual battle locales brim with character missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Comfort of Routine

During the Royale, as well as subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the creature index, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I