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I don't recall precisely when the custom began, however I always name every one of my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Malfunction alternates between male and female avatars, featuring dark and violet hair. Sometimes their style is flawless, as seen 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 various academic attire styles of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they're always Glitch.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Games

Much like my trainers, the Pokémon games have evolved between releases, some cosmetic, some substantial. But at their heart, they remain the same; they're always Pokemon to the core. Game Freak discovered an almost flawless mechanics system approximately three decades back, and has only seriously tried to evolve upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character faces peril). Across every version, the fundamental mechanics cycle of catching and battling with adorable monsters has stayed consistent for nearly 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 emphasis on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes to that framework. It takes place entirely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the expansive journeys of earlier games. Pokémon are intended to coexist alongside humans, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely glimpsed before.

Far more radical is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. It's here the series' almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its most significant transformation yet, swapping deliberate sequential bouts with something more chaotic. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, even as I find myself eager for another turn-based release. Although these alterations to the traditional Pokemon recipe sound like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

When initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your custom avatar planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're immediately recruited by Taunie (for male avatars; the male guide if female) to join their squad of battlers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your starter and you're dispatched into the Z-A Championship.

The Royale is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement of past games. However here, you battle several opponents to earn the chance to participate in a promotion match. Win and you will be promoted to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Battles: A New Approach

Character fights take place at night, while sneaking around the designated combat areas is very enjoyable. I'm always trying to surprise an opponent and launch a free attack, since everything happens instantaneously. Attacks operate on cooldown timers, meaning both combatants may occasionally attack each other concurrently (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's much to get used to initially. Despite playing for nearly 30 hours, I continue to feel that there is much to master in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in ways that work together synergistically. Positioning also factors as a major role in battles since your creatures will trail behind you or move to specific locations to execute moves (some are long-range, while others need to be in close proximity).

The real-time action makes battles progress so quickly that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in the same order, despite this results in a less effective approach. There isn't moment to pause during Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to get overwhelmed. Creature fights rely on feedback post-move execution, and that data remains visible on the display within Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Occasionally, you can't even read it because taking your eyes off your adversary will result in certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose City

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, though tightly filled. Deep into the game, I continue to find new shops and elevated areas to explore. It's also full of charm, and perfectly captures the concept of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, flying away as you approach like the real-life city birds obstructing my path while strolling through NYC. The monkey trio joyfully cling from lampposts, and insect creatures like Kakuna cling on branches.

A focus on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose becomes rote over time. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The building design lacks character, and many elevated areas and underground routes offer little variety. Although I never visited the French capital, the inspiration for Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where no two blocks are the same, and they're all vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has beige structures with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Really Excels

Where Lumiose City really shines, surprisingly, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights in Sword and Shield occur in arena-like venues, providing them real weight and meaning. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet take place in a field with two random people watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You'll battle in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. An elite combat club will invite you to a tournament, and you'll battle on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) hanging above. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated base of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Several distinct combat settings overflow with personality that's absent from the larger city in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

During the Championship, as well as quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable feeling of, {"I