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I don't recall precisely when the custom began, but I always name every one of my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Whether it's a core franchise title or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Glitch alternates between male and female avatars, featuring dark and violet hair. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in the long-running franchise (and one of the most fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're limited to the assorted school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they remain Glitch.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokémon Games

Much like my characters, the Pokemon titles have evolved between releases, some superficial, some significant. However at their core, they stay the same; they're always Pokemon through and through. Game Freak discovered an almost flawless gameplay formula some 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to evolve on it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character is now in danger). Throughout all version, the fundamental gameplay loop of catching and battling alongside charming creatures has remained steady for nearly the same duration as I've been alive.

Shaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, with its lack of arenas and focus on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple deviations into that formula. It takes place entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the expansive journeys of earlier titles. Pokemon are meant to live together with humans, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely glimpsed before.

Far more drastic than that Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. It's here the franchise's almost ideal core cycle experiences its most significant evolution yet, swapping methodical sequential bouts for more frenetic action. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, even as I feel ready for a new turn-based entry. Though these alterations to the classic Pokemon recipe sound like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

Upon first arriving in Lumiose City, any intentions your created character had as a tourist get abandoned; you're immediately enlisted by the female guide (if playing as a male character; Urbain for female characters) to join her team of battlers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your first partner and you're dispatched into the Z-A Championship.

The Royale is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" progression from earlier titles. But here, you battle several opponents to earn the chance to participate in an advancement bout. Win and you'll be promoted to a higher tier, with the final objective of achieving the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: A New Frontier

Character fights occur at night, while sneaking around the designated battle zones is very enjoyable. I'm constantly attempting to surprise a rival and unleash an unopposed move, because everything happens in real time. Attacks function with recharge periods, meaning you and your opponent may occasionally attack each other at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's much to get used to at first. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I continue to feel like there's much to master regarding employing my creatures' attacks in ways that complement each other. Positioning also plays a major role during combat as your Pokémon will follow you around or go to specific locations to perform attacks (some are long-range, whereas others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat makes battles progress so quickly that I find myself sometimes cycling through moves in identical patterns, even when this amounts to a less effective approach. There's no time to pause in Z-A, and plenty of chances to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles depend on response after using an attack, and that data remains visible on the display in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Occasionally, you can't even read it because taking your eyes off your opponent will spell immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's relatively small, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I continue to find new shops and elevated areas to visit. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the vision of Pokémon and people coexisting. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, taking flight as you approach like the real-life pigeons obstructing my path while strolling in New York City. The monkey trio joyfully cling from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna cling on branches.

An emphasis on urban life is a new direction for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Even so, navigating the city grows repetitive over time. You might discover a passage you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The building design is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and sewer paths offer little variety. While I never visited the French capital, the inspiration for the city, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a city where every district are the same, and all are alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It features beige structures with blue or red roofs and simply designed terraces.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Really Excels

In which Lumiose City truly stands out, surprisingly, is indoors. I loved the way creature fights within Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, giving them genuine significance and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet take place on a court with two random people watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You will fight in restaurants with diners observing as they dine. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you will combat in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. My favorite location is the beautifully designed base of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Various individual battle locales brim with character that's absent from the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

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