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I'm not sure precisely when the custom started, however I always name all my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction alternates between male and female avatars, featuring black and purple hair. Sometimes their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this enduring series (and among the most fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're limited to the various academic attire designs of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they're always Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Titles

Similar to my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed across releases, some superficial, some substantial. But at their heart, they stay the same; they're consistently Pokémon through and through. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula approximately 30 years ago, and has only seriously tried to evolve on it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character faces peril). Across all iteration, the fundamental gameplay loop of catching and fighting with adorable monsters has stayed consistent for nearly the same duration as my lifetime.

Breaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and focus on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple deviations into that formula. It's set entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning journeys of earlier games. Pokemon are meant to coexist with people, battlers and civilians, in ways we've only glimpsed before.

Even more drastic is Z-A's real-time battle system. It's here the series' near-perfect core cycle undergoes its most significant transformation to date, replacing methodical sequential fights for something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, even as I find myself ready for a new turn-based entry. Although these alterations to the traditional Pokemon recipe sound like they form a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

When initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your created character planned as a visitor are discarded; you're immediately recruited by Taunie (for male avatars; Urbain for female characters) to become part of her team of trainers. You're gifted a creature from them as your starter and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Championship is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" progression of past games. However here, you battle several trainers 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 achieving rank A.

Live-Action Battles: A New Approach

Trainer battles take place during nighttime, and sneaking around the assigned combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to get a jump on an opponent and unleash a free attack, since all actions occur in real time. Moves function with cooldown timers, meaning both combatants may occasionally attack each other concurrently (and defeat each other at once). It's much to adjust to initially. Despite playing for nearly 30 hours, I continue to feel that there is plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in methods that work together synergistically. Positioning also factors as a major role in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to specific locations to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat causes fights progress so quickly that I find myself repeating sequences through moves in the same order, even when this amounts to a less effective approach. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on feedback after using an attack, and that data remains visible on the display within Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Sometimes, you can't even read it because taking your eyes off your adversary will spell certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, although tightly filled. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering unseen stores and rooftops to explore. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the concept of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, taking flight as you approach similar to actual city birds obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The monkey trio gleefully hang on streetlights, and insect creatures such as Kakuna cling to trees.

A focus on urban life is a new direction for the franchise, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, navigating the city grows repetitive over time. You may stumble upon 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 provide minimal diversity. Although I haven't been to Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where no two blocks are the same, and all are alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It has beige structures with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

In which the city really shines, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I loved the way creature fights within Sword and Shield occur in football-like stadiums, providing them real weight and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet & Violet happen in a field with two random people observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You'll battle in eateries with patrons watching while they eat. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you'll battle on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not Chandelure) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales brim with character that's absent from the overall metropolis in general.

The Familiarity of Repetition

During the Championship, along with quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the Pokédex, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I