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I don't recall precisely when the custom began, but I always name every one of my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Whether it's a core franchise game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Glitch switches from male to female characters, featuring dark and violet locks. Sometimes their style is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in this long-running franchise (and one of the more fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're confined to the various academic attire designs of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they remain Glitch.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Titles

Similar to my characters, the Pokemon titles have transformed across installments, some cosmetic, some significant. But at their core, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokemon through and through. Game Freak discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system approximately 30 years ago, and just recently truly attempted to evolve upon it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character faces peril). Throughout all version, the fundamental mechanics cycle of capturing and fighting with adorable monsters has remained steady for nearly the same duration as I've been alive.

Shaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and emphasis on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple deviations to that framework. It takes place completely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of earlier games. Pokémon are intended to live together alongside people, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we've only glimpsed previously.

Even more drastic is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. It's here the series' almost ideal core cycle experiences its biggest transformation to date, swapping methodical turn-based bouts for more frenetic action. And it is immensely fun, despite I feel eager for a new traditional release. Although these changes to the traditional Pokemon recipe sound like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

Upon initially reaching in Lumiose City, any intentions your custom avatar planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're immediately enlisted by Taunie (for male avatars; Urbain for female characters) to become part of their squad of trainers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your starter and are sent to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Championship is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement from earlier titles. But here, you fight a handful of opponents to earn the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you'll be elevated to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of reaching the top rank.

Real-Time Combat: An Innovative Approach

Character fights occur during nighttime, while navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is quite entertaining. I'm always attempting to get a jump on an opponent and launch an unopposed move, since everything happens in real time. Moves function with cooldown timers, indicating both combatants can sometimes attack each other at the same time (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's a lot to get used to initially. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I continue to feel that there is plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in methods that complement each other. Placement also factors as a significant part during combat since your creatures will trail behind you or go to designated spots to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, whereas others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat causes fights go so fast that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in the same order, despite this results in a less effective approach. There's no time to pause in Z-A, and numerous chances to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on response post-move execution, and that data remains visible on screen within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it because diverting attention from your adversary will result in immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's relatively small, though tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I continue to find unseen stores and rooftops to visit. It's also full of charm, and perfectly captures the vision of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, flying away as you approach similar to actual city birds getting in my way while strolling through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures like Kakuna cling on branches.

An emphasis on city living is a new direction for the franchise, and a positive change. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose becomes rote eventually. You might discover a passage you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The building design is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and sewer paths offer little variety. Although I never visited the French capital, the inspiration for the city, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a city where no two blocks are the same, and all are alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It features tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

Where The Metropolis Really Excels

In which Lumiose City truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I loved how Pokémon battles within Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, giving them genuine significance and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen on a court with few spectators watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching as they dine. A fancy battle society will invite you to a tournament, and you will combat on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Various individual battle locales overflow with personality that's absent from the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

Throughout the Royale, along with quelling rogue powered-up creatures and filling the creature index, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I