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I'm not sure exactly how the tradition began, but I consistently call all my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Whether it's a core franchise game or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Glitch alternates from male to female avatars, with dark and violet locks. Occasionally their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this long-running series (and one of the more fashion-focused releases). Other times they're limited to the various academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they're always Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokemon Games

Much like my trainers, the Pokémon games have evolved between releases, with certain superficial, some substantial. But at their core, they stay the same; they're always Pokémon to the core. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula approximately three decades back, 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 every iteration, the core mechanics cycle of capturing and battling with adorable monsters has stayed steady for almost the same duration as I've been alive.

Shaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, with its lack of arenas and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several deviations to that formula. It takes place completely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the expansive journeys of earlier games. Pokemon are meant to live together with people, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we've only seen glimpses of before.

Even more drastic is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. It's here the series' almost ideal core cycle undergoes its most significant evolution yet, swapping deliberate turn-based fights with more frenetic action. And it's immensely fun, even as I find myself eager for a new traditional entry. Although these alterations to the classic Pokémon formula sound like they create an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

When initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your created character had as a tourist are discarded; you're immediately recruited by Taunie (for male avatars; the male guide if female) 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 Championship.

The Championship is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" progression from earlier titles. But here, you battle a handful of trainers to earn the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you will be promoted to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Battles: An Innovative Approach

Character fights take place during nighttime, and sneaking around the designated combat areas is very enjoyable. I'm constantly attempting to get a jump on a rival and launch a free attack, since all actions occur in real time. Attacks operate on recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent may occasionally strike simultaneously at the same time (and defeat each other simultaneously). 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 in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in methods that complement each other. Positioning also plays a major role during combat since your creatures will follow you around or move to specific locations to perform attacks (some are long-range, while others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat causes fights go so fast that I find myself repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, despite this amounts to a less effective approach. There's no time to pause in Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Creature fights depend on response after using an attack, and that information is still present on screen within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since taking your eyes off your adversary will result in immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's relatively small, although tightly filled. Deep into the game, I continue to find new shops and rooftops to explore. It's also full of charm, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, flying away when you get near like the real-life pigeons obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures such as Kakuna cling to trees.

An emphasis on urban life is a new direction for the franchise, and a welcome one. Even so, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive over time. You may stumble upon an alley you never visited, but it feels identical. The architecture lacks character, and most rooftops and underground routes provide minimal diversity. While I haven't been to Paris, the inspiration for Lumiose, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a city where no two blocks differs, and they're all alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Really Excels

In which Lumiose City really shines, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I loved the way creature fights in Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, giving them genuine significance and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet & Violet happen in a field with two random people observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. A fancy battle society will invite you to a competition, and you will combat on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated headquarters of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales brim with character missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

Throughout the Championship, along with subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the creature index, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I