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

Be it a core franchise game or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Malfunction alternates between male and female characters, featuring dark and violet hair. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in this enduring series (and one of the more style-conscious releases). Other times they're confined to the assorted academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they're always Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokémon Titles

Similar to my characters, the Pokemon titles have transformed across releases, with certain superficial, some significant. However at their core, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokémon through and through. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless gameplay formula some three decades back, and has only seriously tried to evolve upon it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character is now in danger). Throughout all version, the core gameplay loop of capturing and battling with charming creatures has stayed 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 emphasis on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several deviations to that framework. It's set entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of earlier games. Pokemon are intended to live together alongside humans, battlers and civilians, in ways we've only seen glimpses of before.

Far more radical than that Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. It's here the franchise's almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its biggest evolution yet, swapping methodical turn-based fights with more frenetic action. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, even as I find myself eager for a new traditional release. Though these changes to the traditional Pokémon formula seem like they create an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

When first arriving in Lumiose City, whatever plans your custom avatar planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're immediately enlisted by the female guide (for male avatars; the male guide for female characters) to join her team of trainers. You receive a creature from them as your first partner and you're dispatched into the Z-A Royale.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" progression of past games. But here, you fight several opponents to earn the opportunity to compete in a promotion match. Win and you will be promoted to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of achieving the top rank.

Live-Action Battles: A New Approach

Character fights take place during nighttime, and sneaking around the assigned combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to surprise an opponent and unleash an unopposed move, since all actions occur in real time. Attacks function with recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent may occasionally strike simultaneously concurrently (and knock each other out at once). It's a lot to get used to initially. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I continue to feel like there's plenty to learn regarding using my Pokémon's moves 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, whereas others need to be up close and personal).

The real-time action causes fights go so fast that I often repeating sequences of attacks in identical patterns, despite this amounts to a less effective approach. There's no time to breathe in Z-A, and plenty of chances to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on response post-move execution, and that information is still present on screen within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it because diverting attention from your opponent will result in certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose City

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, although densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and rooftops to visit. It is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the vision of creatures and humans coexisting. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, taking flight when you get near like the real-life pigeons getting in my way when walking through NYC. The monkey trio gleefully hang on streetlights, and insect creatures like Kakuna cling to trees.

A focus on urban life is a new direction for Pokémon, and a positive change. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose becomes rote eventually. You may stumble upon an alley you never visited, but it feels identical. The architecture lacks character, and many elevated areas and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. Although 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 no two blocks are the same, and they're all alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has beige structures topped with colored roofs and simply designed terraces.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

Where Lumiose City really shines, surprisingly, is indoors. I adored how Pokémon battles within Sword and Shield take place in arena-like venues, giving them genuine significance and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet take place in a field with two random people watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. An elite combat club will invite you to a competition, and you will combat in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Several distinct combat settings overflow with personality missing in the larger city as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

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