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

Whether it's a main series title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Malfunction alternates from male to female characters, featuring black and purple locks. Occasionally their style is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in the enduring series (and one of the more fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're limited to the various academic attire styles of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they're always Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokémon Games

Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have evolved across releases, with certain cosmetic, others substantial. However at their heart, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokémon through and through. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless gameplay formula approximately three decades back, and has only seriously tried to innovate on it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character faces peril). Across all iteration, the fundamental mechanics cycle of capturing and fighting alongside charming creatures has stayed steady for almost the same duration as my lifetime.

Breaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, 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 a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning adventures of earlier games. Pokémon are intended to live together alongside humans, trainers and civilians, in manners we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Far more radical is Z-A's real-time battle system. It's here the franchise's almost ideal core cycle experiences its most significant evolution to date, swapping methodical sequential bouts with something more chaotic. And it is immensely fun, despite I feel eager for another traditional entry. Although these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe sound like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

Upon initially reaching in Lumiose City, whatever plans your created character had as a tourist are discarded; you're immediately enlisted by Taunie (if playing as a male character; Urbain for female characters) to join their squad of battlers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your starter and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Royale is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" progression from earlier titles. However here, you fight a handful of trainers to earn the opportunity to participate in an advancement bout. Win and you will be elevated to the next rank, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Combat: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles take place during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the assigned battle zones is quite entertaining. I'm constantly trying to surprise an opponent and launch an unopposed move, since everything happens instantaneously. Attacks function with cooldown timers, indicating you and your opponent may occasionally strike simultaneously concurrently (and defeat each other at once). It's a lot to get used to initially. Despite playing for nearly 30 hours, I continue to feel that there is much to master regarding using my Pokémon's moves in methods that work together synergistically. Positioning also factors as a major role during combat since your creatures will trail behind you or move to specific locations to execute moves (some are long-range, whereas others must be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles go so fast that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in the same order, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to pause during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles rely on feedback after using an attack, and that data remains visible on the display in Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it since diverting attention from your opponent will spell immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, though densely packed. Far into the adventure, I continue to find unseen stores and elevated areas to explore. It is also full of charm, and fully realizes the vision of creatures and humans coexisting. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near like the real-life pigeons getting in my way when walking in New York City. 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 Pokémon, and a positive change. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive 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 sewer paths offer little variety. While I haven't been to Paris, the inspiration for the city, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a city where every district are the same, and they're all vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It has beige structures with blue or red roofs and simply designed terraces.

Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

Where Lumiose City truly stands out, surprisingly, is indoors. I loved the way creature fights in Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, giving them real weight and importance. Conversely, fights within Scarlet and Violet take place on a court with two random people watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching as they dine. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated base of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales overflow with personality that's absent from the overall metropolis in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

During the Championship, as well as quelling rogue powered-up creatures and filling the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I