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I don't recall exactly how the custom started, however I consistently call every one of my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Whether it's a core franchise game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Glitch switches between male and female characters, featuring black and purple hair. Occasionally their fashion is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in the enduring series (and one of the more fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're confined to the assorted academic attire designs of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Titles

Much like my characters, the Pokémon games have evolved between installments, with certain superficial, some significant. But at their core, they remain identical; they're always Pokemon to the core. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless mechanics system approximately three decades back, and just recently seriously tried to evolve upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar faces peril). Throughout all version, the fundamental gameplay loop of catching and fighting with adorable monsters has stayed steady for nearly the same duration as my lifetime.

Breaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, featuring lack of arenas and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several changes to that formula. It's set completely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning adventures of previous titles. Pokemon are intended to live together alongside humans, trainers and civilians, in manners we have merely seen glimpses of before.

Far more drastic is Z-A's live-action battle system. It's here the series' near-perfect core cycle experiences its biggest transformation yet, swapping methodical sequential bouts with more frenetic action. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, despite I find myself eager for another traditional entry. Though these changes to the traditional Pokémon formula seem like they form a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your custom avatar had as a tourist are discarded; you're immediately enlisted by Taunie (if playing as a male character; Urbain for female characters) to join her team of battlers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your first partner and are sent into the Z-A Royale.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" progression of past games. But here, you fight a handful of opponents to gain the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you will be promoted to a higher tier, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Live-Action Combat: A New Frontier

Trainer battles occur at night, and sneaking around the assigned combat areas is very entertaining. I'm always attempting to get a jump on an opponent and unleash a free attack, because everything happens instantaneously. Attacks operate on cooldown timers, indicating you and your opponent can sometimes strike simultaneously at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's a lot to get used to at first. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel that there is much to master in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in methods that work together synergistically. Placement also plays a major role in battles since your creatures will trail behind you or move to designated spots to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, whereas others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles progress so quickly that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in the same order, even when this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to pause in Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on response after using an attack, and that data is still present on the display within Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Occasionally, you can't even read it because diverting attention from your adversary will result in certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and rooftops to explore. It is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the vision of creatures and humans living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, taking flight as you approach similar to actual pigeons 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.

A focus on urban life is a new direction for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city grows repetitive eventually. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The building design is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. Although I haven't been to Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a city where no two blocks differs, and they're all vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It has beige structures with blue or red roofs and simply designed balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Really Excels

Where the city truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I loved the way creature fights in Sword and Shield occur in arena-like venues, providing them real weight and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen on a court with two random people watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You'll battle in eateries with patrons watching while they eat. A fancy battle society will invite you to a competition, and you will combat on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) suspended overhead. My favorite location is the beautifully designed base of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Various individual battle locales overflow with personality missing in the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Championship, along with quelling rogue powered-up creatures and filling the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I