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I'm not sure exactly how the tradition started, however I consistently call every one of my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series game or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Glitch alternates from male to female characters, featuring dark and violet locks. Occasionally their fashion is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this enduring franchise (and one of the more style-conscious releases). Other times they're limited to the various school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they're always Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Titles

Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have transformed between installments, some superficial, others substantial. But at their heart, they stay the same; they're always Pokémon to the core. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to evolve on it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout all iteration, the core gameplay loop of capturing and battling with charming creatures has remained steady for nearly as long as my lifetime.

Breaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and focus on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes to that framework. It's set entirely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X and Y, ditching the expansive adventures of previous games. Pokémon are meant to coexist with people, trainers and civilians, in manners we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Even more radical than that Z-A's live-action battle system. This is where the series' almost ideal core cycle experiences its biggest evolution yet, swapping methodical turn-based fights with more frenetic action. And it's immensely fun, despite I feel ready for a new turn-based release. Although these alterations to the classic Pokémon formula seem like they create a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

Upon initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your custom avatar planned as a visitor are discarded; you're promptly enlisted by Taunie (if playing as a male character; the male guide for female characters) to join their squad of battlers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your first partner and are sent into the Z-A Royale.

The Championship is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement of past games. However here, you fight a handful of opponents to earn the opportunity to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you'll be promoted to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of reaching the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles occur at night, and sneaking around the assigned battle zones is very enjoyable. I'm always attempting to get a jump on an opponent and unleash a free attack, because all actions occur in real time. Moves function with recharge periods, meaning both combatants can sometimes strike simultaneously concurrently (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's a lot to get used to at first. Despite playing for nearly thirty hours, I still feel like there's much to master in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in methods that work together synergistically. Positioning also factors as a major role in battles since your creatures will follow you around or go to specific locations to execute moves (some are long-range, while others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles go so fast that I often repeating sequences of attacks in identical patterns, even when this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to breathe in Z-A, and plenty of chances to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on feedback post-move execution, and that information remains visible on screen within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Sometimes, you cannot process it because diverting attention from your opponent will result in certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, though tightly filled. Deep into the game, I continue to find new shops and rooftops to visit. It is also full of charm, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, taking flight when you get near similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path while strolling through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

A focus on city living represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive over time. You might discover a passage you never visited, but it feels identical. The architecture is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I never visited Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a city where every district differs, and they're all vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It features tan buildings topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

In which Lumiose City truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I loved the way creature fights within Sword and Shield occur in arena-like venues, providing them genuine significance and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet & Violet happen in a field with few spectators watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You will fight in eateries with diners observing while they eat. A fancy battle society will invite you to a tournament, and you'll battle on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Various individual battle locales brim with character missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

During the Royale, as well as subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I