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I don't recall exactly how the tradition began, however I always name all my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Be it a core franchise title or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Glitch alternates between male and female avatars, featuring dark and violet locks. Sometimes their style is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in the enduring series (and one of the most fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're limited to the various academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they're always Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokémon Games

Similar to my characters, the Pokémon games have transformed across releases, some superficial, others significant. However at their core, they stay the same; they're always Pokémon to the core. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless gameplay formula approximately three decades back, and has only truly attempted to innovate upon it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character faces peril). Across all version, the fundamental mechanics cycle of capturing and battling alongside adorable monsters has remained steady for nearly as long as I've been alive.

Shaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple deviations into that formula. It takes place entirely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X and Y, ditching the region-spanning journeys of previous titles. Pokemon are meant to coexist with people, trainers and civilians, in ways we've only seen glimpses of previously.

Far more drastic than that Z-A's live-action battle system. It's here the series' near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its biggest transformation yet, swapping deliberate turn-based fights with something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, despite I find myself ready for another turn-based entry. Though these changes to the traditional Pokemon recipe sound like they form a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

Upon initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your custom avatar had as a tourist are discarded; you're immediately enlisted by the female guide (if playing as a male character; the male guide if female) to join her team of trainers. You're gifted a creature from them as your starter and are sent to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Royale is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" progression of past games. But here, you fight several opponents to earn the opportunity to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you'll be promoted to the next rank, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Combat: A New Approach

Trainer battles occur at night, and navigating stealthily the designated battle zones is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to surprise a rival and launch a free attack, since everything happens in real time. Attacks operate on cooldown timers, meaning both combatants may occasionally attack each other at the same time (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's a lot to adjust to initially. Even after playing for nearly thirty hours, I continue to feel like there's plenty to learn in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in methods that work together synergistically. Placement also factors as a major role in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or move to designated spots to execute moves (certain ones are distant, whereas others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat causes fights go so fast that I often repeating sequences through moves in the same order, despite this amounts to a less effective approach. There's no time to breathe during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on response post-move execution, and that information remains visible on screen within Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Occasionally, you cannot process it because taking your eyes off your opponent will spell immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose City

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, although tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I continue to find new shops and elevated areas to visit. It is also full of charm, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, flying away when you get near like the real-life city birds getting in my way when walking through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

A focus on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Nonetheless, navigating the city grows repetitive over time. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The building design is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. Although I haven't been to Paris, the inspiration for Lumiose, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a city where no two blocks are the same, and they're all vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and simply designed balconies.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

In which Lumiose City really shines, surprisingly, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights within Sword & Shield occur in arena-like venues, providing them genuine significance and meaning. Conversely, battles in Scarlet & Violet take place on a court with few spectators observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching as they dine. An elite combat club will invite you to a competition, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed base of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Several distinct battle locales overflow with personality missing in the larger city as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Royale, along with quelling rogue powered-up creatures and filling the creature index, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I