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I'm not sure precisely when the tradition began, however I consistently call every one of my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Malfunction alternates between male and female avatars, with black and purple hair. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in this long-running series (and one of the more style-conscious releases). Other times they're limited to the various school uniform styles of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they're always Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Titles

Similar to my trainers, the Pokémon games have evolved between releases, with certain superficial, others significant. But at their core, they remain the same; they're always Pokémon through and through. Game Freak discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system approximately three decades back, and has only truly attempted to innovate upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character faces peril). Across every iteration, the core mechanics cycle of catching and battling with charming creatures has remained consistent for nearly the same duration as I've been alive.

Shaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, with its absence of gyms and focus on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several deviations into that framework. It takes place entirely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the expansive journeys of earlier games. Pokémon are intended to live together with people, battlers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Far more radical than that Z-A's real-time battle system. It's here the series' near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its most significant transformation yet, swapping methodical sequential fights for something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, even as I find myself ready for a new traditional entry. Although these changes to the traditional Pokemon recipe seem like they form an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

Upon first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your created character planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly recruited by the female guide (if playing as a male character; the male guide for female characters) to become part of her team of trainers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your starter and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Championship is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement of past games. However here, you battle a handful of trainers to gain the chance to participate in an advancement bout. Win and you will be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of achieving the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: A New Approach

Trainer battles take place during nighttime, while navigating stealthily the assigned combat areas is very enjoyable. I'm constantly attempting to get a jump on an opponent and unleash an unopposed move, since everything happens in real time. Attacks function with recharge periods, indicating both combatants may occasionally attack each other concurrently (and knock each other out at once). It's a lot to adjust to initially. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel that there is plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in methods that work together synergistically. Placement also factors as a significant part in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or move to specific locations to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others need to be up close and personal).

The real-time action causes fights go so fast that I often repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to breathe during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Creature fights depend on feedback after using an attack, and that data is still present on the display in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your opponent will spell certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, though tightly filled. Deep into the game, I continue to find unseen stores and rooftops to explore. It's also full of charm, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, taking flight as you approach similar to actual city birds obstructing my path while strolling through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

A focus on urban life is a new direction for the franchise, and a positive change. Nonetheless, navigating the city grows repetitive over time. You may stumble upon a passage you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The building design lacks character, and most rooftops and sewer paths offer little variety. Although I haven't been to Paris, the inspiration for Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a city where every district are the same, and they're all alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

In which Lumiose City really shines, surprisingly, is indoors. I loved the way creature fights in Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, giving them real weight and meaning. Conversely, fights within Scarlet and Violet take place in a field with two random people observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You will fight in restaurants with diners observing while they eat. An elite combat club will invite you to a competition, and you'll battle on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales brim with character missing in the larger city as a whole.

The Familiarity of Repetition

During the Royale, along with quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I