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I'm not sure exactly how the tradition started, but I always name all my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Whether it's a core franchise title or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Glitch alternates between male and female avatars, with black and purple hair. Occasionally their fashion is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in this long-running series (and one of the more style-conscious entries). Other times they're confined to the various school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they're always Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Games

Similar to my trainers, the Pokemon titles have transformed across releases, some cosmetic, others significant. However at their heart, they remain the same; they're always Pokémon to the core. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula approximately 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to evolve upon it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character faces peril). Across all iteration, the fundamental mechanics cycle of catching and battling alongside adorable monsters has stayed steady for almost as long as my lifetime.

Breaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, with its absence of gyms and emphasis on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several deviations to that framework. It's set entirely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of previous games. Pokemon are meant to coexist with humans, trainers and civilians, in ways we've only seen glimpses of previously.

Far more drastic is Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. It's here the franchise's near-perfect core cycle experiences its biggest transformation yet, swapping methodical sequential bouts for something more chaotic. And it's immensely fun, even as I find myself ready for another traditional entry. Although these changes to the traditional Pokemon recipe seem like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

Upon first arriving in Lumiose City, any intentions your custom avatar planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly recruited by the female guide (for male avatars; the male guide if female) to join their squad of battlers. You receive a creature from them as your first partner and you're dispatched into the Z-A Royale.

The Royale is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement of past games. But here, you fight a handful of opponents to gain the chance 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 Battles: An Innovative Frontier

Trainer battles occur during nighttime, while sneaking around the assigned combat areas is very enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to get a jump on a rival and launch an unopposed move, because everything happens instantaneously. Attacks function with cooldown timers, indicating you and your opponent may occasionally attack each other concurrently (and knock each other out at once). It's much to get used to initially. Despite playing for nearly 30 hours, I still feel like there's much to master regarding using my Pokémon's moves in methods that work together synergistically. Placement also plays a major role during combat as your Pokémon will follow you around or go to designated spots to execute moves (certain ones are distant, whereas others must be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles progress so quickly that I find myself repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to breathe in Z-A, and plenty of chances to become swamped. Creature fights rely on response post-move execution, and that information remains visible on screen in Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Sometimes, you can't even read it because taking your eyes off your opponent will spell immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's relatively small, although tightly filled. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to visit. It is also full of charm, and perfectly captures the concept of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, taking flight when you get near similar to actual pigeons getting in my way while strolling in New York City. The monkey trio gleefully hang on streetlights, and insect creatures such as Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You might discover an alley you never visited, but it feels identical. The building design is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. Although I never visited Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a city where every district differs, and they're all vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Really Excels

In which Lumiose City really shines, surprisingly, is indoors. I loved how Pokémon battles within Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, providing them real weight and importance. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet and Violet happen on a court with two random people watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You'll battle in restaurants with diners observing as they dine. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated headquarters of a certain faction with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Various individual battle locales overflow with personality that's absent from the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Comfort of Routine

During the Royale, along with quelling rogue powered-up creatures and completing the creature index, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I