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I'm not sure precisely when the tradition started, however I consistently call every one of my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Be it a core franchise title or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Malfunction alternates between male and female avatars, featuring dark and violet locks. Sometimes their style is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in the enduring franchise (and among the more fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're confined to the various academic attire styles of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they remain Glitch.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Games

Much like my characters, the Pokemon titles have evolved across installments, some superficial, some significant. However at their core, they remain the same; they're always Pokémon to the core. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless mechanics system some 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to evolve upon it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout every version, the fundamental gameplay loop of catching and fighting alongside charming creatures has stayed consistent for almost the same duration as I've been alive.

Breaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and emphasis on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several deviations into that formula. It's set entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning journeys of earlier games. Pokemon are meant to live together with people, battlers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely glimpsed before.

Far more radical than that Z-A's live-action battle system. It's here the franchise's almost ideal core cycle experiences its most significant evolution yet, replacing methodical turn-based fights with something more chaotic. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, even as I feel eager for a new turn-based entry. Though these changes to the traditional Pokémon formula sound like they create a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

Upon initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character had as a tourist are discarded; you're immediately recruited by the female guide (for male avatars; the male guide if female) to become part of their squad of trainers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your starter and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement of past games. But here, you fight a handful of trainers to earn the opportunity to compete in a promotion match. Succeed and you'll be elevated to the next rank, with the final objective of achieving the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: A New Frontier

Character fights take place during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the assigned combat areas is quite entertaining. I'm constantly attempting to surprise an opponent and launch a free attack, since all actions occur in real time. Attacks operate on recharge periods, meaning you and your opponent can sometimes attack each other concurrently (and knock each other out at once). It's much to get used to initially. Even after playing for nearly 30 hours, I continue to feel that there is much to master regarding employing my creatures' attacks in ways that complement each other. Placement also factors as a major role during combat as your Pokémon will follow you around or move to specific locations to execute moves (certain ones are distant, whereas others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat 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 pause during Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles depend on response after using an attack, and that information remains visible on the display within Z-A, but whips by 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 will traverse Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering unseen stores and elevated areas to explore. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the concept of creatures and humans coexisting. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, taking flight when you get near like the real-life pigeons getting in my way while strolling in New York City. The monkey trio joyfully cling on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a positive change. Even so, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive over time. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The building design lacks character, and many elevated areas and sewer paths offer little variety. While I never visited the French capital, the inspiration for the city, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where every district differs, and they're all alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has beige structures topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

Where the city truly stands out, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I adored how Pokémon battles in Sword & Shield occur in arena-like venues, giving them genuine significance and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet & Violet take place on a court with few spectators watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching as they dine. An elite combat club will invite you to a competition, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. My favorite location is the beautifully designed headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Several distinct combat settings overflow with personality that's absent from the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Royale, along with quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the creature index, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I