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I don't recall exactly how the custom began, however I always name all my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Whether it's a core franchise game or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Glitch switches between male and female avatars, with dark and violet locks. Occasionally their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in this long-running series (and among the more fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're confined to the assorted school uniform designs of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they remain Glitch.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Titles

Similar to my characters, the Pokemon titles have evolved across releases, some cosmetic, some substantial. But at their heart, they remain the same; they're always Pokémon through and through. Game Freak discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system approximately three decades back, and just recently seriously tried to evolve upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character faces peril). Across all iteration, the core mechanics cycle of catching and fighting with adorable monsters has stayed consistent for almost as long as my lifetime.

Breaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, with its lack of arenas and focus on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple deviations to that framework. It's set completely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning adventures of previous titles. Pokemon are meant to coexist with people, trainers and civilians, in manners we have merely seen glimpses of before.

Far more radical is Z-A's real-time battle system. It's here the franchise's near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its biggest transformation to date, replacing deliberate sequential bouts with something more chaotic. And it is immensely fun, despite I find myself eager for a new turn-based release. Although these changes to the traditional Pokemon recipe seem like they create a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

When initially reaching in Lumiose City, whatever plans your custom avatar had as a tourist are discarded; you're immediately recruited by Taunie (for male avatars; Urbain for female characters) to become part of her team of trainers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your starter and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" progression of past games. But here, you fight several trainers to earn the opportunity to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you'll be promoted to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of achieving the top rank.

Real-Time Combat: A New Approach

Character fights take place at night, and sneaking around the designated combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly attempting to get a jump on an opponent and launch an unopposed move, because all actions occur instantaneously. 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 much to get used to at first. Despite gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel like there's plenty to learn regarding using my Pokémon's moves in methods that work together synergistically. Positioning also plays a major role in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or move to specific locations to perform attacks (some are long-range, whereas others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat causes fights progress so quickly that I find myself sometimes cycling through moves in identical patterns, even when this amounts to a less effective approach. There's no time to pause during Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on feedback after using an attack, and that information remains visible on the display in Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Sometimes, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your opponent will result in certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I continue to find unseen stores and elevated areas to visit. It's also full of charm, and perfectly captures the concept of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, taking flight as you approach similar to actual pigeons getting in my way when walking through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang on streetlights, and insect creatures like Kakuna cling to trees.

A focus on city living represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, navigating the city grows repetitive over time. You may stumble upon a passage you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture lacks character, and most rooftops and underground routes provide minimal diversity. While I never visited the French capital, the inspiration for Lumiose, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a city where every district differs, and all are alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has tan buildings topped with colored roofs and simply designed balconies.

Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

Where Lumiose City really shines, surprisingly, is indoors. I adored how Pokémon battles within Sword & Shield occur in football-like stadiums, giving them real weight and meaning. Conversely, fights within Scarlet & Violet happen on a court with two random people watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You will fight in restaurants with diners observing while they eat. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a competition, and you will combat on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. My favorite location is the beautifully designed base of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Various individual combat settings overflow with personality that's absent from the overall metropolis in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

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