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I don't recall precisely when the tradition began, but I consistently call all my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Whether it's a core franchise game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Glitch switches between male and female avatars, featuring black and purple locks. Sometimes their style is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in the long-running franchise (and one of the most style-conscious entries). At other moments they're confined to the assorted academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Games

Much like my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed between installments, with certain cosmetic, others substantial. But at their heart, they stay identical; they're always Pokemon through and through. The developers uncovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula approximately 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to evolve upon it with games 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 stayed consistent for nearly as long as I've been alive.

Shaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, with its absence of gyms and emphasis on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple deviations into that formula. It's set completely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X and Y, ditching the expansive journeys of earlier titles. Pokemon are intended to coexist with humans, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Far more radical than that Z-A's live-action battle system. It's here the series' near-perfect core cycle experiences its most significant transformation yet, replacing methodical turn-based bouts with more frenetic action. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, even as I find myself eager for a new turn-based release. Though these alterations to the classic Pokémon formula sound like they form an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your custom avatar planned as a visitor are discarded; you're promptly enlisted by the female guide (for male avatars; the male guide if female) to become part of their squad of battlers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your first partner and you're dispatched into the Z-A Royale.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement from earlier titles. However here, you battle several trainers to earn the opportunity to participate in a promotion match. Win and you'll be promoted to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of reaching rank A.

Live-Action Combat: A New Frontier

Trainer battles take place during nighttime, while sneaking around the assigned combat areas is very entertaining. I'm always attempting to get a jump on an opponent and unleash a free attack, since all actions occur in real time. Moves function with recharge periods, meaning both combatants can sometimes strike simultaneously at the same time (and knock each other out at once). It's a lot to adjust to initially. Even after gaming for almost thirty hours, I continue to feel like there's plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in methods that complement each other. Placement also factors as a significant part in battles since your creatures will follow you around or go 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 find myself repeating sequences through moves in identical patterns, even when this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to breathe in Z-A, and plenty of chances to become swamped. Pokémon battles depend on feedback after using an attack, and that information is still present on the display within Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it since taking your eyes off your adversary will spell certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose City

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's relatively small, though tightly filled. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering unseen stores and elevated areas to explore. It's also rich with character, and perfectly captures the vision of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, taking flight when you get near similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The monkey trio gleefully hang on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

An emphasis on city living represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You might discover an alley you never visited, but it feels identical. The building design is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and sewer paths offer little variety. Although I haven't been to the French capital, the inspiration for Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a city where every district differs, and all are alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It features tan buildings with blue or red roofs and simply designed balconies.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

In which Lumiose City really shines, surprisingly, is indoors. I loved how Pokémon battles in Sword and Shield take place in arena-like venues, giving them genuine significance and meaning. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen on a court with few spectators observing. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You'll battle in restaurants with patrons watching as they dine. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you'll battle on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated base of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Several distinct battle locales overflow with personality that's absent from the larger city as a whole.

The Familiarity of Repetition

Throughout the Royale, as well as subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I