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I don't recall exactly how the custom began, but I always name all my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Be it a main series game or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Malfunction alternates from male to female characters, featuring black and purple locks. Occasionally their style is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in this long-running series (and among the more fashion-focused entries). Other times they're confined to the assorted academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they're always Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokémon Games

Much like my characters, the Pokémon games have evolved between releases, with certain superficial, some significant. However at their heart, they stay the same; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless gameplay formula approximately three decades back, 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 iteration, the core gameplay loop of capturing and battling alongside charming creatures has stayed consistent for nearly as long as I've been alive.

Breaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, featuring absence of gyms and focus on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes to that formula. It's set entirely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the expansive adventures of earlier titles. Pokémon are meant to coexist alongside people, trainers and civilians, in manners we've only seen glimpses of previously.

Even more drastic is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. It's here the series' near-perfect gameplay loop undergoes its biggest evolution yet, replacing deliberate turn-based fights with more frenetic action. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, despite I find myself eager for another turn-based entry. Although these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they create an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving in Lumiose City, whatever plans your created character planned as a visitor are discarded; you're promptly enlisted by the female guide (if playing as a male character; the male guide for female characters) to become part of her team of trainers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your starter and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Royale is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" progression from earlier titles. But here, you fight several opponents to earn the chance to participate in a promotion match. Succeed and you'll be elevated to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of achieving rank A.

Live-Action Battles: A New Frontier

Character fights take place at night, while sneaking around the assigned combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm always attempting to surprise an opponent and unleash a free attack, since everything happens instantaneously. Moves 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 adjust to at first. Despite playing for nearly thirty hours, I continue to feel that there is much to master regarding using my Pokémon's moves in methods that work together synergistically. Positioning also plays a major role during combat since your creatures will trail behind you or go to designated spots to execute moves (some are long-range, while others must be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles go so fast that I often sometimes cycling through moves in the same order, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to get overwhelmed. Creature fights rely on response after using an attack, and that information remains visible on screen in Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Occasionally, you can't even read it since taking your eyes off your opponent will result in certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, though tightly filled. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to visit. It is also full of charm, and fully realizes the concept of Pokémon and people living together. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, taking flight when you get near similar to actual city birds obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on city living represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote eventually. You may stumble upon a passage you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and sewer paths offer little variety. Although I haven't been to Paris, the model behind the city, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where no two blocks are the same, and all are alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It features beige structures with blue or red roofs and simply designed balconies.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Really Excels

Where the city truly stands out, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I loved the way creature fights within Sword & Shield occur in football-like stadiums, providing them real weight and meaning. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet and Violet happen on a court with few spectators observing. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You will fight in eateries with patrons watching as they dine. An elite combat club will invite you to a competition, and you will combat in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not Chandelure) suspended overhead. My favorite location is the beautifully designed headquarters of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales overflow with personality missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

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