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I'm not sure precisely when the tradition started, but I consistently call all my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Be it a core franchise title or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Glitch alternates from male to female characters, featuring dark and violet hair. Sometimes their fashion is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this enduring series (and one of the most style-conscious releases). Other times they're limited to the various academic attire styles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they remain Glitch.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Titles

Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have transformed across releases, some cosmetic, some substantial. However at their core, they stay identical; they're always Pokemon to the core. The developers discovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula some 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to innovate upon it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar faces peril). Across all version, the core mechanics cycle of capturing and battling with charming creatures has remained consistent for almost as long as my lifetime.

Shaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, with its absence of gyms and focus on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several changes to that formula. It's set entirely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the region-spanning journeys of earlier titles. Pokémon are meant to live together with people, trainers and non-trainers alike, in ways we have merely seen glimpses of before.

Even more radical is Z-A's live-action battle system. This is where the franchise's almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its most significant transformation to date, swapping methodical turn-based fights for something more chaotic. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, despite I find myself eager for another traditional release. Though these alterations to the traditional Pokemon recipe seem like they form an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

Upon initially reaching in Lumiose City, whatever plans your created character had as a tourist are discarded; you're immediately recruited by the female guide (for male avatars; Urbain for female characters) to become part of their squad of battlers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your first partner and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Championship is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement from earlier titles. But here, you fight several trainers to earn the opportunity to participate in a promotion match. Win and you'll be promoted to a higher tier, with the final objective of reaching the top rank.

Real-Time Combat: A New Frontier

Trainer battles occur at night, and sneaking around the designated combat areas is very enjoyable. I'm constantly attempting to surprise a rival and unleash a free attack, because all actions occur instantaneously. Moves function with cooldown timers, indicating you and your opponent may occasionally attack each other at the same time (and defeat each other at once). It's much to adjust to at first. Despite playing for nearly thirty hours, I continue to feel that there is much to master in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in ways that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a significant part during combat as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to designated spots to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others must be in close proximity).

The live combat causes fights progress so quickly that I find myself repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, despite this amounts to a less effective approach. There's no time to breathe during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles depend on response after using an attack, and that information is still present on screen in Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it since taking your eyes off your opponent will spell immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you will traverse 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 is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the vision of Pokémon and people living together. 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 Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures like Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

A focus on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a welcome one. Even so, exploring Lumiose becomes rote eventually. You may stumble upon a passage you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The building design lacks character, and most rooftops and underground routes offer little variety. While I never visited the French capital, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a city where no two blocks differs, and all are vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It features tan buildings topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

In which the city truly stands out, surprisingly, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights within Sword and Shield occur in football-like stadiums, giving them genuine significance and importance. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet & Violet take place on a court with two random people watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You'll battle in restaurants with diners observing while they eat. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you'll battle on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Various individual battle locales brim with character that's absent from the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Comfort of Routine

Throughout the Championship, as well as subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the creature index, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I