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I'm not sure precisely when the custom began, however I consistently call all my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Whether it's a core franchise title or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Malfunction switches between male and female characters, with dark and violet hair. Occasionally their style is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in this long-running franchise (and among the more fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're limited to the various academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they're always Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokémon Titles

Similar to my characters, the Pokemon titles have evolved across installments, some superficial, others significant. But at their heart, they stay the same; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. Game Freak discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system approximately 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to evolve upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Across all version, the core mechanics cycle of capturing and fighting with charming creatures has remained steady for nearly as long as my lifetime.

Shaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, with its absence of gyms and emphasis on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple deviations into that framework. It takes place entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the region-spanning journeys of previous games. Pokémon are intended to coexist alongside humans, trainers and civilians, in ways we've only glimpsed previously.

Even more radical is Z-A's live-action battle system. It's here the series' near-perfect core cycle experiences its biggest transformation to date, swapping methodical sequential fights with more frenetic action. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, despite I find myself ready for another turn-based release. Though these alterations to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they form a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

Upon first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your created character had as a tourist are discarded; you're promptly recruited by the female guide (if playing as a male character; the male guide if female) to join their squad of trainers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your starter and you're dispatched into the Z-A Championship.

The Championship is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement of past games. However here, you battle a handful of opponents to earn the opportunity to participate in an advancement bout. Win and you'll be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Battles: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles take place at night, and navigating stealthily the assigned battle zones is very entertaining. I'm always trying to surprise an opponent and launch a free attack, since everything happens in real time. Attacks function with cooldown timers, indicating both combatants may occasionally strike simultaneously concurrently (and knock each other out at once). It's much to adjust to initially. Despite gaming for almost thirty hours, I still feel like there's much to master in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in ways that work together synergistically. Placement also plays a major role in battles since your creatures will trail behind you or move to designated spots to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, whereas others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat causes fights go so fast that I often repeating sequences through moves in the same order, even when this amounts to a less effective approach. There isn't moment to pause in Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Creature fights rely on feedback post-move execution, and that information is still present on screen within Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Sometimes, you can't even read it because taking your eyes off your opponent will result in certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose City

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's relatively small, although tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering unseen stores and rooftops to explore. It's also full of charm, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people living together. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, flying away as you approach similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path while strolling through NYC. The monkey trio joyfully cling on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna cling on branches.

A focus on urban life is a new direction for Pokémon, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You may stumble upon an alley you never visited, but it feels identical. The building design lacks character, and most rooftops and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I never visited the French capital, the inspiration for Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where no two blocks are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has beige structures topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

Where Lumiose City really shines, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I loved how Pokémon battles within Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, giving them real weight and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet take place in a field with few spectators watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You'll battle in eateries with diners observing as they dine. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a competition, and you will combat in its rooftop arena 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. Various individual combat settings overflow with personality that's absent from the overall metropolis in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Royale, along with subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable feeling of, {"I