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I don't recall exactly how the custom started, however I always name all my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction switches between male and female characters, featuring dark and violet locks. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in the enduring series (and one of the more style-conscious entries). At other moments they're limited to the various academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they're always Glitch.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Titles

Similar to my characters, the Pokemon titles have transformed between releases, with certain cosmetic, others substantial. However at their core, they stay the same; they're always Pokemon to the core. The developers uncovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula approximately 30 years ago, and has only seriously tried to evolve on it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character faces peril). Across every version, the fundamental mechanics cycle of capturing and battling with charming creatures has remained consistent for nearly the same duration as my lifetime.

Breaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and focus on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple deviations into that formula. It's set entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the region-spanning journeys of earlier titles. Pokemon are intended to live together with humans, trainers and civilians, in manners we have merely glimpsed previously.

Even more drastic than that Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the series' almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its biggest transformation to date, replacing methodical sequential bouts for more frenetic action. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, despite I feel eager for another turn-based entry. Though these changes to the traditional Pokemon recipe seem like they create an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

When initially reaching in Lumiose City, any intentions your created character planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly enlisted by Taunie (if playing as a male character; Urbain if female) to become part of her team of trainers. You receive a creature from them as your first partner and you're dispatched into the Z-A Royale.

The Championship is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement of past games. But here, you battle several opponents to gain the opportunity to participate in a promotion match. Win and you will be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of achieving the top rank.

Real-Time Battles: A New Approach

Trainer battles take place at night, and sneaking around the assigned combat areas is very entertaining. I'm always attempting to get a jump on an opponent and launch a free attack, since all actions occur instantaneously. Moves operate on recharge periods, meaning you and your opponent may occasionally strike simultaneously concurrently (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's much to adjust to initially. Despite playing for nearly 30 hours, I still feel that there is plenty to learn regarding using my Pokémon's moves in ways that work together synergistically. Positioning also plays a major role during combat as your Pokémon will follow you around or move to designated spots to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others must be in close proximity).

The real-time action causes fights go so fast that I often repeating sequences through moves in identical patterns, even when this amounts to a less effective approach. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Creature fights rely on feedback after using an attack, and that data is still present on screen within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Sometimes, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your opponent will result in certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose City

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, though tightly filled. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to visit. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, flying away as you approach like the real-life city birds obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures such as Kakuna cling on branches.

A focus on city living represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture lacks character, and many elevated areas and sewer paths offer little variety. While I haven't been to Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York 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 City lacks that quality. It features beige structures with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

Where Lumiose City truly stands out, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I loved how Pokémon battles within Sword & Shield take place in football-like stadiums, providing them real weight and meaning. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet & Violet happen on a court with two random people watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. A fancy battle society will invite you to a tournament, and you will combat in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed base of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Various individual combat settings overflow with personality missing in the larger city as a whole.

The Familiarity of Repetition

Throughout the Royale, along with subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the creature index, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I