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I don't recall exactly how the custom started, but I consistently call every one of my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series game or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Malfunction alternates between male and female characters, with black and purple locks. Occasionally their style is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in the long-running series (and one of the more fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're limited to the various school uniform styles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they're always Glitch.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokémon Titles

Similar to my trainers, the Pokemon titles have evolved across installments, some superficial, others significant. But at their heart, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. The developers uncovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to evolve on it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout all version, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and fighting with adorable monsters has stayed steady for almost the same duration as I've been alive.

Breaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, with its lack of arenas and focus on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several deviations into that framework. It's set completely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the region-spanning journeys of previous titles. Pokémon are meant to live together alongside people, battlers and civilians, in manners we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Even more drastic is Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. It's here the series' almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its most significant transformation yet, replacing deliberate sequential bouts with something more chaotic. And it is immensely fun, even as I feel ready for a new turn-based entry. Though these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they form an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

Upon first arriving in Lumiose City, any intentions your created character planned as a visitor are discarded; you're immediately enlisted by the female guide (for male avatars; the male guide for female characters) to become part of 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 similar to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" progression of past games. However here, you battle several trainers to gain the chance to participate in a promotion match. Win and you will be promoted to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Combat: A New Approach

Character fights occur during nighttime, while navigating stealthily the assigned combat areas is quite entertaining. I'm constantly trying to get a jump on an opponent and unleash an unopposed move, because all actions occur instantaneously. Moves operate on cooldown timers, meaning you and your opponent can sometimes attack each other at the same time (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's a lot to adjust to at first. Despite playing for nearly thirty hours, I continue to feel that there is plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in methods that work together synergistically. Placement also plays a significant part in battles since your creatures will trail behind you or move to designated spots to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others need to be in close proximity).

The real-time action causes fights go so fast that I often sometimes cycling through moves in the same order, even when this results in a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to pause during Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles depend on feedback post-move execution, and that information is still present on screen in Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it because diverting attention from your opponent will result in certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, though tightly filled. Deep into the game, I continue to find new shops and rooftops to explore. It is also rich with character, and fully realizes the vision of Pokémon and people living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, taking flight when you get near like the real-life pigeons obstructing my path while strolling through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

A focus on urban life represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You might discover a passage you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The building design lacks character, and many elevated areas and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I haven't been to the French capital, the inspiration for Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where no two blocks are the same, and they're all alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It features beige structures with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where The Metropolis Really Excels

Where Lumiose City truly stands out, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I loved how Pokémon battles within Sword & Shield take place in football-like stadiums, providing them genuine significance and importance. Conversely, fights within Scarlet and Violet take place on a court with few spectators observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You'll battle in eateries with diners observing while they eat. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you will combat on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Various individual combat settings overflow with personality missing in the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

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