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I don't recall precisely when the custom began, however I always name all my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Be it a main series title or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Glitch switches between male and female characters, featuring dark and violet hair. Occasionally their fashion is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in this long-running franchise (and among the most style-conscious releases). Other times they're limited to the various academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Glitch.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Games

Similar to my trainers, the Pokemon titles have transformed between releases, some cosmetic, others significant. But at their core, they remain the same; they're always Pokémon through and through. Game Freak discovered an almost flawless mechanics system approximately three decades back, and has only truly attempted to innovate on it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character faces peril). Across all version, the core mechanics cycle of capturing and fighting with adorable monsters has stayed consistent for nearly the same duration as I've been alive.

Shaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, featuring absence of gyms and emphasis on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple deviations into that framework. It's set entirely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the expansive adventures of previous games. Pokemon are meant to live together with people, trainers and non-trainers alike, in ways we've only seen glimpses of before.

Even more drastic is Z-A's real-time battle system. It's here the franchise's almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its biggest transformation to date, replacing deliberate turn-based fights for something more chaotic. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, even as I feel ready for a new turn-based entry. Though these alterations to the traditional Pokémon formula seem like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

Upon first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character planned as a visitor are discarded; you're immediately enlisted by Taunie (for male avatars; Urbain if female) to join her team of battlers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement of past games. However here, you fight several trainers to earn the chance to participate in a promotion match. Win and you will be promoted to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of reaching rank A.

Live-Action Combat: A New Approach

Trainer battles take place during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is very enjoyable. I'm constantly attempting to surprise a rival and unleash an unopposed move, since everything happens instantaneously. Moves function with cooldown timers, meaning both combatants may occasionally attack each other at the same time (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's much to get used to at first. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel that there is plenty to learn regarding employing my creatures' attacks in methods that complement each other. Placement also factors as a major role during combat as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to designated spots to execute moves (some are long-range, whereas others must be in close proximity).

The real-time action causes fights go so fast that I often sometimes cycling through moves in identical patterns, despite this amounts to a less effective approach. There isn't moment to pause in Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Creature fights rely on feedback after using an attack, and that information remains visible on the display within Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Occasionally, you cannot process it because diverting attention from your opponent will result in immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, though densely packed. Far into the adventure, I continue to find new shops and rooftops to explore. It's also rich with character, and fully realizes the vision of creatures and humans living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, taking flight as you approach like the real-life pigeons obstructing my path when walking through NYC. The monkey trio joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures such as Kakuna cling on branches.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote eventually. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture lacks character, and many elevated areas and underground routes offer little variety. Although I haven't been to the French capital, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a city where every district are the same, and they're all vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where The Metropolis Really Excels

In which the city really shines, oddly enough, is indoors. I loved the way creature fights within Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them real weight and meaning. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen in a field with few spectators observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You'll battle in restaurants with patrons watching as they dine. An elite combat club will invite you to a competition, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated base of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Various individual battle locales overflow with personality missing in the larger city as a whole.

The Comfort of Routine

Throughout the Championship, as well as subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I