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I'm not sure exactly how the tradition began, however I consistently call every one of my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Be it a core franchise game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Malfunction switches from male to female avatars, featuring dark and violet hair. Sometimes their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in this enduring franchise (and among the most fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're confined to the assorted school uniform designs of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they remain Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokémon Titles

Much like my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed across releases, with certain cosmetic, some substantial. However at their heart, they remain identical; they're always Pokemon through and through. Game Freak discovered an almost flawless mechanics system some three decades back, and just recently truly attempted to innovate upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Across all version, the fundamental mechanics cycle of capturing and battling alongside charming creatures has remained consistent for almost the same duration as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, with its absence of gyms and emphasis on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple deviations into that formula. It's set entirely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X and Y, ditching the region-spanning journeys of earlier titles. Pokemon are meant to live together with humans, trainers and civilians, in ways we have merely seen glimpses of before.

Even more drastic than that Z-A's real-time battle system. This is where the series' near-perfect core cycle undergoes its most significant transformation to date, swapping deliberate sequential fights with more frenetic action. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, even as I feel ready for another turn-based entry. Though these changes to the classic Pokémon formula seem like they form a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

Upon initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your custom avatar planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly enlisted by Taunie (if playing as a male character; Urbain for female characters) to become part of their squad of battlers. 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 of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement from earlier titles. But here, you battle a handful of opponents to gain the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you'll be elevated to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Battles: An Innovative Frontier

Character fights occur during nighttime, while sneaking around the assigned combat areas is very enjoyable. I'm always attempting to get a jump on an opponent and launch an unopposed move, because all actions occur in real time. Attacks operate on recharge periods, meaning you and your opponent can sometimes attack each other at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's much to adjust to initially. Despite playing for nearly thirty hours, I still feel that there is much to master regarding using my Pokémon's moves in ways that work together synergistically. Placement also plays a significant part during combat since your creatures will trail behind you or go to designated spots to execute moves (some are long-range, while others need to be in close proximity).

The real-time action causes fights go so fast that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, even when 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 feedback after using an attack, and that data remains visible on screen in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Sometimes, you can't even read it since taking your eyes off your adversary will result in certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose City

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, although tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering unseen stores and rooftops to explore. It's also rich with character, and fully realizes the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. 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 joyfully cling from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

A focus on urban life is a new direction for Pokémon, and a positive change. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive eventually. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture lacks character, and many elevated areas and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I haven't been to the French capital, the model behind the city, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a city where every district are the same, and they're all vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It features beige structures with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

In which Lumiose City really shines, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I loved the way creature fights within Sword and Shield take place in arena-like venues, giving them real weight and meaning. Conversely, fights within Scarlet & Violet take place on a court with two random people watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You will fight in eateries with patrons watching while they eat. A fancy battle society will invite you to a tournament, and you'll battle on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated base of a certain faction with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Various individual battle locales brim with character missing in the larger city as a whole.

The Comfort of Repetition

Throughout the Championship, along with quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the creature index, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I