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I don't recall exactly how the tradition began, however I always name all 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 characters, featuring dark and violet hair. Sometimes their style is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in the enduring franchise (and one of the more style-conscious entries). Other times they're confined to the assorted academic attire designs from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they remain Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokemon Titles

Similar to my characters, the Pokemon titles have transformed across releases, with certain cosmetic, some substantial. However at their heart, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless gameplay formula approximately three decades back, and has only seriously tried to evolve upon it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character faces peril). Throughout all iteration, the core mechanics cycle of catching and fighting with charming creatures has remained consistent for almost as long as I've been alive.

Breaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, with its absence of gyms and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several changes to that framework. It takes place completely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the expansive journeys of previous titles. Pokemon are intended to coexist alongside people, battlers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely glimpsed before.

Even more drastic is Z-A's real-time battle system. This is where the franchise's almost ideal core cycle experiences its most significant transformation to date, swapping methodical sequential fights with something more chaotic. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, despite I feel eager for a new turn-based release. Though these changes to the classic Pokémon formula sound like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

When initially reaching in Lumiose City, any intentions your custom avatar planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're immediately recruited by Taunie (if playing as a male character; the male guide if female) to join her team of battlers. You receive a creature from them as your starter and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" progression from earlier titles. But here, you fight several opponents to earn the opportunity to participate in an advancement bout. Succeed and you'll be promoted to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of reaching the top rank.

Real-Time Battles: A New Approach

Character fights occur at night, and navigating stealthily the assigned battle zones is very entertaining. I'm always trying to surprise an opponent and launch an unopposed move, since all actions occur in real time. Attacks function with recharge periods, meaning you and your opponent may occasionally strike simultaneously concurrently (and knock each other out at once). It's much to get used to initially. Despite gaming for almost 30 hours, I continue to feel like there's much to master regarding employing my creatures' attacks in ways that work together synergistically. Placement also plays a major role in battles since your creatures will follow you around or go to specific locations to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others must be in close proximity).

The live combat causes fights go so fast that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, even when this results in a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to breathe in Z-A, and plenty of chances to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles depend on feedback after using an attack, and that information remains visible on the display in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Occasionally, you can't even read it since taking your eyes off your opponent will result in certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose City

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, though tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering new shops and rooftops to visit. It is also full of charm, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, taking flight as you approach similar to actual city birds getting in my way while strolling through NYC. The monkey trio joyfully cling on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose becomes rote over time. You may stumble upon a passage you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The building design is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I never visited the French capital, the model behind the city, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis 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 topped with colored roofs and simply designed terraces.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Really Excels

In which Lumiose City really shines, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I adored how Pokémon battles in Sword and Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them real weight and importance. Conversely, fights within Scarlet & Violet happen in a field with few spectators watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching as they dine. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a competition, and you will combat in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not Chandelure) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated headquarters of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Various individual battle locales overflow with personality missing in the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Comfort of Routine

During the Royale, as well as subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the creature index, there is an unavoidable feeling of, {"I