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I don't recall exactly how the tradition started, but I always name every one of my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Whether it's a main series game or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction switches between male and female characters, with black and purple locks. Occasionally their fashion is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in this enduring series (and one of the more fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're limited to the various academic attire designs of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokémon Games

Similar to my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed between releases, some cosmetic, some substantial. But at their core, they remain identical; they're always Pokémon through and through. The developers discovered an almost flawless gameplay formula some 30 years ago, and has only seriously tried to innovate on it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character is now in danger). Across all iteration, the core mechanics cycle of catching and battling with adorable monsters has stayed steady for nearly as long as I've been alive.

Shaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple changes to that framework. It takes place entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the expansive adventures of earlier titles. Pokemon are meant to coexist alongside humans, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely seen glimpses of before.

Far more drastic than that Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. It's here the series' almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its biggest evolution yet, replacing methodical sequential bouts for something more chaotic. And it's immensely fun, even as I feel eager for a new traditional release. Although these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they form a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

Upon initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character had as a tourist 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're gifted one of her Pokémon as your first partner and are sent into the Z-A Championship.

The Championship is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" progression from earlier titles. But here, you battle several trainers to gain the chance to participate in a promotion match. Win and you'll be promoted to the next rank, with the final objective of achieving the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: A New Frontier

Character fights occur at night, and sneaking around the assigned battle zones is quite entertaining. I'm always attempting to get a jump on a rival and launch a free attack, since all actions occur instantaneously. Attacks operate on cooldown timers, indicating you and your opponent can sometimes attack each other at the same time (and defeat each other at once). It's much to get used to initially. Despite playing for nearly thirty hours, I still feel like there's plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in methods that complement each other. Positioning also plays a significant part in battles as your Pokémon will follow you around or go to designated spots to execute moves (some are long-range, whereas others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles go so fast that I often repeating sequences through moves in identical patterns, despite this amounts to a less effective approach. There's no time to breathe during Z-A, and plenty of chances to become swamped. Creature fights depend on response after using an attack, and that data is still present on the display in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Occasionally, you can't even read it since diverting attention from your adversary will result in certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, 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 is also rich with character, and fully realizes the vision of Pokémon and people coexisting. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, taking flight when you get near like the real-life city birds getting in my way when walking through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang on streetlights, and insect creatures like Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on city living represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose 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 offer little variety. Although I haven't been to Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where every district are the same, and they're all vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It has tan buildings topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Really Excels

Where the city truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I loved how Pokémon battles within Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, giving them real weight and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen on a court with two random people observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You'll battle in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. An elite combat club will invite you to a tournament, and you will combat on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Various individual battle locales overflow with personality missing in the larger city in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

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