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I don't recall exactly how the custom began, however I always name every one of my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Be it a main series game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Glitch switches from male to female avatars, featuring dark and violet hair. Occasionally their fashion is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in the long-running series (and one of the more style-conscious releases). At other moments they're confined to the various academic attire designs from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they're always Glitch.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Titles

Much like my characters, the Pokemon titles have transformed across releases, with certain cosmetic, some substantial. However at their heart, they remain the same; they're always Pokémon through and through. The developers uncovered a nearly perfect mechanics system approximately three decades back, and has only seriously tried to innovate on it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar faces peril). Throughout all iteration, the core mechanics cycle of capturing and fighting with adorable monsters has stayed steady for almost as long as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and focus on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes to that framework. It takes place entirely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the region-spanning journeys of earlier games. Pokémon are meant to live together with humans, battlers and non-trainers alike, in manners we've only seen glimpses of before.

Even more radical is Z-A's real-time battle system. It's here the series' almost ideal gameplay loop undergoes its biggest transformation yet, replacing methodical sequential bouts with something more chaotic. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, even as I find myself ready for a new turn-based release. Although these alterations to the traditional Pokémon formula sound like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving in Lumiose City, any intentions your custom avatar had as a tourist get abandoned; you're immediately recruited by the female guide (if playing as a male character; the male guide for female characters) to join their squad of trainers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your first partner and you're dispatched into the Z-A Royale.

The Royale is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" progression from earlier titles. But here, you battle several opponents to earn the chance to compete in a promotion match. Succeed and you'll be promoted to the next rank, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Combat: A New Frontier

Character fights occur at night, while navigating stealthily the assigned battle zones is quite enjoyable. I'm always trying to get a jump on an opponent and launch an unopposed move, because all actions occur instantaneously. Moves function with cooldown timers, meaning you and your opponent may occasionally strike simultaneously concurrently (and knock each other out at once). It's much to adjust to initially. Despite gaming for almost thirty hours, I continue to feel that there is much to master regarding employing my creatures' attacks in methods that work together synergistically. Positioning also factors as a significant part in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to specific locations 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 of attacks in the same order, despite this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and plenty of chances to become swamped. Creature fights rely on feedback post-move execution, and that information remains visible on the display in Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Occasionally, you cannot process it because diverting attention from your adversary will spell immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to explore. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, taking flight when you get near similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path while strolling in New York City. The monkey trio gleefully hang on streetlights, and insect creatures like Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on urban life is a new direction for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You might discover an alley you never visited, but it feels identical. The building design lacks character, and many elevated areas and underground routes provide minimal diversity. While I haven't been to Paris, the inspiration for Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a city where every district differs, and they're all alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It features tan buildings topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

Where Lumiose City really shines, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I loved how Pokémon battles within Sword & Shield take place in football-like stadiums, giving them real weight and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet & Violet happen in a field with few spectators watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You'll battle in eateries with patrons watching as they dine. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you will combat on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Various individual battle locales brim with character that's absent from the larger city in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Championship, as well as subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I