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I don't recall precisely when the tradition started, however I consistently call every one of my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Be it a core franchise title or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Malfunction switches from male to female characters, featuring dark and violet locks. Occasionally their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this enduring franchise (and one of the most fashion-focused entries). Other times they're limited to the assorted school uniform styles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokemon Games

Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have transformed across installments, with certain superficial, some significant. But at their heart, they remain identical; they're always Pokémon to the core. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless mechanics system approximately 30 years ago, and just recently truly attempted to evolve upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout all version, the core gameplay loop of capturing and battling with charming creatures has stayed consistent for almost the same duration as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and focus on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several changes to that formula. It's set entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of earlier titles. Pokémon are intended to coexist with humans, trainers and civilians, in ways we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Even more drastic is Z-A's real-time battle system. It's here the franchise's almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its biggest transformation yet, replacing deliberate sequential fights for something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, despite I find myself ready for a new turn-based release. Though these changes to the traditional Pokemon recipe sound like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your created character had as a tourist get abandoned; you're promptly enlisted by the female guide (if playing as a male character; Urbain if female) to become part of her team of trainers. You're gifted a creature from them as your first partner and are sent into the Z-A Royale.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" progression from earlier titles. However here, you fight several trainers to gain the chance to compete in a promotion match. Succeed and you will be elevated to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of achieving rank A.

Real-Time Combat: A New Approach

Trainer battles take place at night, and sneaking around the assigned battle zones is very entertaining. I'm always trying to surprise 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 knock each other out simultaneously). It's much to get used to at first. Even after playing for nearly thirty hours, I still feel like there's plenty to learn in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Positioning also plays a major role in battles since your creatures will follow you around or go to specific locations to execute moves (certain ones are distant, while others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat causes fights go so fast that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to pause in Z-A, and plenty of chances to become swamped. Creature fights rely on response post-move execution, and that data is still present on the display within Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it because taking your eyes off your adversary will spell certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose City

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's relatively small, although tightly filled. Deep into the game, I continue to find new shops and elevated areas to visit. It is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the concept of creatures and humans coexisting. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, taking flight when you get near similar to actual pigeons getting in my way when walking through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on urban life is a new direction for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote eventually. You might discover an alley you never visited, but it feels identical. The architecture is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. Although I haven't been to the French capital, the inspiration for Lumiose, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where every district are the same, and all are alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Really Excels

Where the city truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I loved the way creature fights in Sword and Shield occur in football-like stadiums, providing them real weight and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet take place in a field with two random people observing. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You'll battle in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you will combat in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. My favorite location is the beautifully designed base of a certain faction with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct combat settings overflow with personality missing in the larger city as a whole.

The Comfort of Repetition

During the Championship, as well as subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the creature index, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I