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I don't recall precisely when the tradition started, but I consistently call every one of my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Be it a core franchise title or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction switches from male to female avatars, featuring black and purple hair. Occasionally their fashion is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in the enduring series (and among the more fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're confined to the various academic attire designs of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they're always Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokémon Games

Similar to my trainers, the Pokémon games have evolved across installments, with certain cosmetic, others substantial. But at their heart, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokémon through and through. Game Freak discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some three decades back, and has only seriously tried to evolve on it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout all iteration, the fundamental mechanics cycle of catching and battling alongside charming creatures has stayed consistent for nearly as long as my lifetime.

Shaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, with its lack of arenas and focus on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several changes into that formula. It takes place entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of earlier titles. Pokemon are intended to coexist with people, trainers and civilians, in manners we've only seen glimpses of before.

Far more drastic than that Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the franchise's almost ideal gameplay loop undergoes its most significant evolution yet, swapping methodical sequential fights for something more chaotic. And it's immensely fun, despite I feel ready for another traditional release. Though these alterations to the traditional Pokemon recipe seem like they create an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly recruited by Taunie (if playing as a male character; the male guide if female) to join their squad of battlers. You receive a creature from them as your starter and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Royale is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement from earlier titles. But here, you battle several opponents to gain the opportunity to participate in a promotion match. Succeed and you will be elevated to the next rank, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Battles: A New Approach

Character fights occur during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the designated battle zones is very enjoyable. I'm always trying to surprise a rival and launch a free attack, because everything happens in real time. Attacks operate on recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent can sometimes strike simultaneously at the same time (and defeat each other at once). It's a lot to get used to initially. Even after playing for nearly 30 hours, I still 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 significant part in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or move to designated spots to perform attacks (some are long-range, whereas others must be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles go so fast that I often sometimes cycling through moves in identical patterns, despite this results in a less effective approach. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on response after using an attack, and that data remains visible on screen in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Sometimes, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your adversary will spell immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, though tightly filled. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering unseen stores and rooftops to explore. It is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the vision of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, taking flight as you approach like the real-life pigeons obstructing my path while strolling in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures such as Kakuna cling on branches.

An emphasis on city living is a new direction for the franchise, and a positive change. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive eventually. You might discover a passage you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The building design is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and underground routes offer little variety. Although I haven't been to Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a city where no two blocks are the same, and they're all alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It has beige structures with blue or red roofs and simply designed balconies.

Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

In which the city really shines, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights in Sword and Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them real weight and meaning. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet take place in a field with two random people watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You will fight in eateries with diners observing while they eat. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a competition, and you will combat on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. My favorite location is the beautifully designed base of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Various individual battle locales overflow with personality that's absent from the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Championship, as well as quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I