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I'm not sure precisely when the tradition started, but I always name all my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Be it a core franchise title or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Malfunction switches from male to female avatars, featuring dark and violet hair. Occasionally their style is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in the enduring series (and one of the most fashion-focused releases). Other times they're confined to the assorted academic attire designs of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they're always Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Titles

Similar to my characters, the Pokémon games have transformed across installments, with certain cosmetic, some substantial. But at their heart, they stay identical; they're consistently Pokemon through and through. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula some 30 years ago, and has only seriously tried to evolve upon it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character faces peril). Throughout all iteration, the core mechanics cycle of capturing and battling with adorable monsters has remained consistent for almost the same duration as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, with its absence of gyms and emphasis on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several deviations to that framework. It takes place completely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the region-spanning journeys of previous titles. Pokémon are meant to coexist with people, battlers and non-trainers alike, in ways we have merely glimpsed previously.

Far more radical is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. It's here the series' near-perfect core cycle undergoes its biggest evolution yet, swapping methodical turn-based fights with more frenetic action. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, despite I feel eager for a new traditional entry. Though these alterations to the traditional Pokemon recipe sound like they form a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

When initially reaching in Lumiose City, whatever plans your created character planned as a visitor are discarded; you're immediately enlisted by the female guide (for male avatars; the male guide if female) to become part of their squad of trainers. You receive a creature from them as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement of past games. But here, you fight several opponents to gain the opportunity to participate in a promotion match. Succeed and you'll be promoted to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of reaching the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: A New Frontier

Character fights take place during nighttime, while sneaking around the assigned battle zones is very entertaining. I'm always trying to get a jump on a rival and launch a free attack, because everything happens instantaneously. Attacks function with cooldown timers, indicating you and your opponent can sometimes attack each other concurrently (and knock each other out at once). It's much to get used to initially. Despite gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel that there is much to master in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Positioning also plays a significant part during combat as your Pokémon will trail behind you or move to specific locations to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, whereas others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat causes fights progress so quickly that I find myself sometimes cycling through moves in the same order, despite this results in a less effective approach. There's no time to breathe in Z-A, and numerous chances to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on feedback post-move execution, and that information is still present on the display within Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Sometimes, you cannot process it since taking your eyes off your adversary will result in immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, although densely packed. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to visit. It's also rich with character, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people living together. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, taking flight as you approach like the real-life city birds getting in my way when walking through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna cling on branches.

A focus on city living is a new direction for Pokémon, and a positive change. Even so, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive eventually. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture lacks character, and most rooftops and sewer paths offer little variety. Although I haven't been to Paris, the model behind the city, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where every district are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

Where the city truly stands out, surprisingly, is indoors. I loved the way creature fights within Sword and Shield occur in arena-like venues, giving them real weight and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet take place in a field with few spectators watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You'll battle in eateries with patrons watching while they eat. A fancy battle society will invite you to a tournament, and you'll battle on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed base of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct combat settings overflow with personality that's absent from the larger city in general.

The Familiarity of Repetition

During the Royale, along with subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I