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

Whether it's a main series title or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Glitch alternates between male and female avatars, featuring dark and violet hair. Occasionally their fashion is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in this enduring franchise (and among the most style-conscious releases). Other times they're limited to the assorted school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they're always Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokémon Games

Much like my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed across installments, with certain superficial, some substantial. However at their core, they remain the same; they're consistently Pokémon through and through. Game Freak discovered an almost flawless mechanics system approximately 30 years ago, and just recently truly attempted to evolve upon it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar faces peril). Across every version, the fundamental mechanics cycle of capturing and fighting with charming creatures has stayed consistent for almost the same duration as I've been alive.

Breaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple deviations to that formula. It's set entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, ditching the expansive adventures of earlier games. Pokemon are meant to live together alongside people, trainers and non-trainers alike, in ways we've only glimpsed previously.

Far more radical is Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. This is where the franchise's almost ideal core cycle experiences its biggest evolution to date, replacing deliberate turn-based bouts with something more chaotic. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, even as I feel eager for another traditional release. Though these changes to the classic Pokémon formula sound like they form a completely new 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 at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character planned as a visitor are discarded; you're immediately recruited by the female guide (if playing as a male character; Urbain for female characters) to become part of her team of trainers. You receive a creature from them as your starter and are sent to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Royale is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement of past games. However here, you fight a handful of opponents to earn the opportunity to participate in an advancement bout. Succeed and you will be promoted to the next rank, with the final objective of achieving rank A.

Real-Time Battles: An Innovative Approach

Character fights occur at night, while sneaking around the assigned combat areas is quite entertaining. I'm constantly trying to surprise a rival and unleash an unopposed move, because everything happens instantaneously. Moves operate on recharge periods, meaning both combatants may occasionally strike simultaneously at the same time (and knock each other out at once). It's a lot to adjust to initially. Despite gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel like there's much to master in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in methods that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a major role in battles since your creatures will follow you around or move to specific locations to perform attacks (some are long-range, while others need to be in close proximity).

The real-time action makes battles progress so quickly that I often sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, despite this results in a less effective approach. There's no time to breathe during Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles depend on feedback post-move execution, and that data remains visible on screen within Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Occasionally, you can't even read it since taking your eyes off your opponent will result in immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose City

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, though densely packed. Far into the adventure, I continue to find new shops and elevated areas to visit. It's also rich with character, and fully realizes the concept of Pokémon and people living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near like the real-life pigeons getting in my way while strolling in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Nonetheless, navigating the city becomes rote eventually. You might discover a passage you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The building design is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and underground routes offer little variety. While I never visited the French capital, the inspiration for 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 vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

In which the city really shines, surprisingly, is indoors. I adored how Pokémon battles within Sword & Shield occur in football-like stadiums, providing them real weight and meaning. Conversely, fights within Scarlet and Violet happen on a court with few spectators watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You will fight in eateries with diners observing as they dine. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a competition, and you will combat on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not Chandelure) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed base of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Various individual battle locales brim with character missing in the larger city in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

Throughout the Championship, as well as subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable feeling of, {"I