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I don't recall precisely when the tradition started, however I always name every one of my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series title or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction switches between male and female characters, featuring dark and violet locks. Occasionally their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this long-running franchise (and one of the most style-conscious releases). At other moments they're confined to the assorted academic attire designs 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 between releases, with certain cosmetic, some significant. However at their core, they remain identical; they're always Pokémon through and through. The developers uncovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some 30 years ago, and has only seriously tried to evolve upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar faces peril). Across every version, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and fighting with charming creatures has stayed steady for almost the same duration as my lifetime.

Breaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, with its absence of gyms and focus on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several deviations to that framework. It takes place completely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning adventures of previous titles. Pokemon are meant to live together alongside people, battlers and non-trainers alike, in manners we've only glimpsed previously.

Even more radical is Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. This is where the series' almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its most significant evolution to date, replacing deliberate turn-based fights for something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, despite I find myself eager for a new traditional release. Though these changes to the classic Pokémon formula sound like they form a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

Upon first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character planned as a visitor are discarded; you're promptly recruited by Taunie (if playing as a male character; the male guide for female characters) to become part of her team of battlers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your starter and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Championship is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement from earlier titles. However here, you battle a handful of opponents to gain the chance to compete in a promotion match. Win and you will be promoted to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of achieving rank A.

Real-Time Battles: An Innovative Frontier

Character fights take place during nighttime, while navigating stealthily the assigned combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to get a jump on a rival and launch a free attack, because all actions occur in real time. Moves operate on recharge periods, meaning you and your opponent may occasionally strike simultaneously concurrently (and knock each other out at once). It's much to adjust to at first. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel like there's much to master in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in ways that complement each other. Placement also plays a significant part during combat as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to specific locations to execute moves (some are long-range, whereas others need to be up close and personal).

The real-time action causes fights progress so quickly that I find myself sometimes cycling through moves in identical patterns, despite this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to breathe during Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on response post-move execution, and that data remains visible on the display within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Sometimes, you can't even read it because taking your eyes off your opponent will spell certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's relatively small, although tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering new shops and rooftops to visit. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the vision of Pokémon and people coexisting. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, flying away when you get near similar to actual pigeons getting in my way when walking through NYC. The monkey trio joyfully cling from lampposts, and insect creatures such as Kakuna cling on branches.

A focus on city living represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a welcome one. Even so, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive eventually. You might discover an alley you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and sewer paths offer little variety. Although I haven't been to Paris, the model behind the city, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a city where every district are the same, and they're all alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and simply designed terraces.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Really Excels

In which Lumiose City really shines, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights within Sword & Shield occur in football-like stadiums, providing them genuine significance and meaning. Conversely, battles in 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 while they eat. An elite combat club will invite you to a tournament, and you will combat in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed base of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Several distinct combat settings brim with character that's absent from the larger city in general.

The Familiarity of Repetition

Throughout the Championship, as well as quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable feeling of, {"I