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I'm not sure exactly how the tradition began, but I consistently call every one of my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Be it a core franchise game or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Malfunction switches from male to female characters, featuring dark and violet hair. Occasionally their fashion is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in this enduring franchise (and one of the most style-conscious entries). Other times they're confined to the assorted academic attire styles of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they're always Glitch.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Titles

Similar to my characters, the Pokémon games have evolved across releases, some cosmetic, some substantial. However at their core, they stay identical; they're always Pokemon through and through. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless gameplay formula approximately 30 years ago, and has only seriously tried to evolve upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character faces peril). Across every version, the core mechanics cycle of capturing and fighting alongside charming creatures has stayed steady for almost as long as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, with its lack of arenas and focus on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several changes to that framework. It's set completely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the expansive adventures of earlier titles. Pokemon are meant to live together with people, battlers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Far more drastic is Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. It's here the series' almost ideal core cycle experiences its biggest transformation yet, swapping methodical sequential bouts with more frenetic action. And it is immensely fun, even as I feel eager for a new traditional entry. Although these alterations to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

When initially reaching in Lumiose City, any intentions your custom avatar had as a tourist are discarded; you're promptly enlisted by Taunie (if playing as a male character; Urbain if female) to join her team of battlers. You receive a creature from them as your starter 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" advancement from earlier titles. However here, you fight several trainers to earn the opportunity to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you will be promoted to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of reaching rank A.

Live-Action Battles: An Innovative Frontier

Character fights occur at night, and navigating stealthily the designated battle zones is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly attempting to surprise an opponent and unleash a free attack, because all actions occur in real time. Attacks operate on cooldown timers, meaning 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 playing for nearly thirty hours, I continue to feel like there's plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in methods that work together synergistically. Positioning also plays a significant part in battles as your Pokémon will follow you around or go to specific locations to execute moves (certain ones are distant, while others need to be up close and personal).

The real-time action makes battles progress so quickly that I often sometimes cycling through moves in identical patterns, despite this results in a less effective approach. There isn't moment to pause during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles depend on feedback post-move execution, and that information is still present on the display within Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your opponent will result in certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, although densely packed. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to explore. It is also rich with character, and fully realizes the vision of Pokémon and people coexisting. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, flying away as you approach similar to actual city birds getting in my way while strolling through NYC. The monkey trio gleefully hang on streetlights, and insect creatures like Kakuna cling to trees.

A focus on city living is a new direction for the franchise, and a welcome one. Even so, exploring Lumiose becomes rote eventually. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and underground routes offer little variety. While I never visited the French capital, the inspiration for Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a city where every district 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 simply designed balconies.

Where The Metropolis Really Excels

Where the city really shines, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I loved how Pokémon battles in Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, giving them genuine significance and meaning. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen on a court with few spectators observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You'll battle in restaurants with diners observing while they eat. A fancy battle society will invite you to a competition, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Several distinct combat settings overflow with personality missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

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