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I'm not sure precisely when the tradition began, but I always name every one of my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Whether it's a core franchise game or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Malfunction switches from male to female characters, featuring black and purple hair. Sometimes their style is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in the long-running series (and one of the more style-conscious releases). At other moments they're limited to the assorted school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they're always Glitch.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokémon Games

Similar to my characters, the Pokemon titles have transformed between releases, with certain superficial, some substantial. However at their heart, they stay the same; they're consistently Pokemon to the core. The developers discovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula approximately three decades back, and just recently seriously tried to innovate on it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar faces peril). Throughout all iteration, the fundamental mechanics cycle of capturing and battling alongside adorable monsters has remained consistent for nearly the same duration as my lifetime.

Breaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, with its lack of arenas and emphasis on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes to that formula. It's set entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning adventures of previous titles. Pokemon are meant to coexist with people, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we've only glimpsed before.

Far more drastic than that Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. It's here the franchise's near-perfect gameplay loop undergoes its biggest transformation yet, swapping deliberate turn-based bouts for more frenetic action. And it's immensely fun, even as I feel eager for a new traditional release. Although these alterations to the traditional Pokémon formula sound like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

Upon first arriving in Lumiose City, whatever plans your created character planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're immediately recruited by the female guide (for male avatars; Urbain if female) to become part of her team of trainers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your first partner and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" progression of past games. But here, you fight a handful of opponents to earn the opportunity to participate in a promotion match. Succeed and you will be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Live-Action Combat: A New Frontier

Character fights occur during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the designated battle zones is very entertaining. I'm always trying to get a jump on a rival and launch a free attack, since everything happens instantaneously. Moves operate on recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent may occasionally strike simultaneously concurrently (and knock each other out at once). It's a lot to get used to initially. Despite gaming for almost thirty hours, I continue to feel like there's much to master in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in methods that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a major role in battles as your Pokémon will follow you around or go to designated spots to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat causes fights progress so quickly that I find myself sometimes cycling through moves in the same order, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to pause during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles depend on response post-move execution, and that data remains visible on the display within Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Sometimes, you can't even read it because diverting attention from your opponent will result in immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, although densely packed. Far into the adventure, I continue to find unseen stores and elevated areas to visit. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, taking flight when you get near like the real-life pigeons getting in my way while strolling in New York City. The monkey trio joyfully cling on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna cling on branches.

A focus on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive over time. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I never visited Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a city where no two blocks are the same, and all are alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis 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 inside buildings. I adored how Pokémon battles within Sword and Shield occur in arena-like venues, giving them genuine significance and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet & Violet take place on a court with two random people watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You'll battle in restaurants with diners observing as they dine. An elite combat club will invite you to a tournament, and you will combat on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. My favorite location is the beautifully designed headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales overflow with personality that's absent from the larger city in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

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