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I don't recall precisely when the custom began, however I consistently call all my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Be it a core franchise title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction switches from male to female avatars, with dark and violet locks. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in this long-running series (and one of the most fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're confined to the assorted school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they remain Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokemon Titles

Similar to my trainers, the Pokemon titles have evolved between releases, with certain superficial, others significant. However at their core, they remain the same; they're consistently Pokemon through and through. Game Freak discovered an almost flawless gameplay formula some 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to evolve upon it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar faces peril). Across every iteration, the core mechanics cycle of catching and fighting with adorable monsters has stayed steady for almost as long as I've been alive.

Breaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, featuring lack of arenas and emphasis on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several changes into that formula. It's set entirely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning journeys of previous titles. Pokemon are meant to live together alongside people, trainers and civilians, in manners we have merely glimpsed before.

Even more drastic than that Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. This is where the series' almost ideal core cycle undergoes its most significant transformation yet, replacing deliberate turn-based bouts for something more chaotic. And it's immensely fun, despite I feel eager for another turn-based release. Although these changes to the classic Pokémon formula sound like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

Upon first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character planned as a visitor are discarded; you're immediately recruited by Taunie (if playing as a male character; the male guide for female characters) to become part of their squad of battlers. You receive a creature from them as your starter and are sent into the Z-A Championship.

The Royale is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement of past games. However here, you fight several opponents to gain the chance to participate in a promotion match. Win and you will be elevated to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of reaching the top rank.

Live-Action Battles: A New Approach

Character fights occur during nighttime, while sneaking around the designated battle zones is very enjoyable. I'm constantly attempting to surprise an opponent and unleash an unopposed move, since all actions occur instantaneously. Moves operate on recharge periods, indicating both combatants may occasionally strike simultaneously at the same time (and defeat each other at once). It's much to get used to at first. Even after playing for nearly 30 hours, I continue to feel like there's plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in ways that complement each other. Placement also factors as a major role in battles as your Pokémon will follow you around or go to specific locations to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others need to be up close and personal).

The real-time action makes battles go so fast that I often repeating sequences through moves in the same order, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to breathe in Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to become swamped. Creature fights rely on response after using an attack, and that information remains visible on the display in Z-A, but whips by quickly. Sometimes, you cannot process it because taking your eyes off your adversary will spell immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's relatively small, although densely packed. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering unseen stores and rooftops to explore. It is also full of charm, and perfectly captures the vision of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, flying away as you approach similar to actual city birds getting in my way when walking through NYC. The monkey trio joyfully cling from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna cling on branches.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose becomes rote eventually. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture lacks character, and many elevated areas and sewer paths offer little variety. Although I haven't been to the French capital, the model behind the city, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where no two blocks differs, and all are alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It features tan buildings topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Really Excels

In which Lumiose City really shines, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights in Sword and Shield take place in arena-like venues, giving them genuine significance and importance. Conversely, fights within Scarlet & 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 will fight in eateries with patrons watching while they eat. 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 beautifully designed headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Various individual combat settings overflow with personality that's absent from the larger city in general.

The Familiarity of Repetition

During the Royale, along with subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the creature index, there is an unavoidable feeling of, {"I