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I don't recall precisely when the tradition started, but I consistently call every one of my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series title or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Malfunction alternates between male and female avatars, featuring dark and violet locks. Occasionally their fashion is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in the enduring franchise (and among the more fashion-focused entries). Other times they're confined to the various academic attire styles of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they're always Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokemon Titles

Much like my characters, the Pokémon games have transformed between installments, with certain cosmetic, others substantial. But at their core, they stay the same; they're consistently Pokemon through and through. Game Freak discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system approximately 30 years ago, and just recently truly attempted to innovate upon it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout every iteration, the fundamental gameplay loop of catching and fighting alongside charming creatures has stayed steady for almost as long as I've been alive.

Breaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, with its lack of arenas and focus on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several deviations into that formula. It's set entirely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the region-spanning journeys of previous titles. Pokemon are intended to live together alongside people, trainers and civilians, in manners we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Far more radical than that Z-A's live-action battle system. This is where the franchise's near-perfect core cycle undergoes its biggest transformation to date, replacing deliberate turn-based fights with more frenetic action. And it is immensely fun, despite I find myself ready for a new turn-based release. Although these changes to the traditional Pokémon formula seem like they create a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

Upon initially reaching in Lumiose City, whatever plans your created character planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're immediately enlisted by Taunie (if playing as a male character; the male guide if female) to become part of her team of battlers. You're gifted a creature from them as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" progression from earlier titles. But here, you fight several trainers to earn the chance to participate in a promotion match. Succeed and you will be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Battles: An Innovative Frontier

Character fights occur during nighttime, and sneaking around the designated battle zones is very entertaining. I'm always attempting to surprise an opponent and unleash an unopposed move, since all actions occur in real time. Moves function with cooldown timers, meaning both combatants may occasionally strike simultaneously at the same time (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's a lot to get used to at first. Despite gaming for almost thirty hours, I still feel like there's much to master in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in methods that work together synergistically. Positioning also factors as a major role during combat as your Pokémon will trail behind you or move to designated spots to execute moves (certain ones are distant, while others must be up close and personal).

The real-time action makes battles progress so quickly that I often repeating sequences of attacks in identical patterns, despite this results in a less effective approach. There's no time to pause in Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles rely on feedback post-move execution, and that information is still present on screen within Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it because taking your eyes off your adversary will spell immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you will traverse 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 is also full of charm, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near like the real-life city birds obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

A focus on city living is a new direction for the franchise, and a welcome one. Even so, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive eventually. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The building design is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. Although I never visited Paris, the model behind the city, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a city where no two blocks are the same, and they're all alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and simply designed balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Really Excels

In which the city truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I loved the way creature fights in Sword and Shield take place in arena-like venues, giving them real weight and importance. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet & Violet take place on a court with few spectators watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You will fight in restaurants with diners observing while they eat. A fancy battle society will invite you to a competition, and you'll battle on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Several distinct battle locales brim with character that's absent from the larger city as a whole.

The Comfort of Routine

Throughout the Championship, as well as quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I