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

Be it a core franchise game or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Malfunction alternates from male to female characters, with dark and violet locks. Occasionally their style is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in this enduring franchise (and one of the more fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're limited to the various school uniform designs from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they're always Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokémon Games

Similar to my characters, the Pokémon games have transformed across releases, some superficial, others substantial. But at their heart, they remain the same; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula approximately 30 years ago, and has only seriously tried to innovate on it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character faces peril). Across all version, the core mechanics cycle of catching and battling alongside adorable monsters has remained steady for almost as long as I've been alive.

Breaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes to that formula. It's set entirely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the expansive adventures of previous titles. Pokemon are intended to live together alongside humans, battlers and non-trainers alike, in ways we've only glimpsed before.

Far more radical is Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. It's here the franchise's almost ideal core cycle experiences its biggest evolution to date, replacing methodical sequential fights for something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, despite I find myself ready for a new turn-based release. Though these alterations to the traditional Pokémon formula sound like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

Upon first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your custom avatar planned as a visitor are discarded; you're promptly enlisted by the female guide (for male avatars; Urbain if female) to join her team of trainers. You're gifted a creature from them as your starter and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Royale is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" progression of past games. But here, you battle several trainers to earn the chance to participate in an advancement bout. Succeed and you'll be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of achieving rank A.

Real-Time Battles: A New Frontier

Trainer battles occur during nighttime, while navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is very enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to surprise an opponent and launch an unopposed move, since everything happens instantaneously. Attacks function with recharge periods, indicating both combatants may occasionally attack each other concurrently (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's much to adjust to at first. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel that there is much to master in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in ways that complement each other. Positioning also plays a major role in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or move to specific locations to execute moves (some are long-range, while others must be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles progress so quickly that I often sometimes cycling through moves in identical patterns, despite this results in a less effective approach. There's no time to breathe in Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on response post-move execution, and that data remains visible on the display in Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Occasionally, you can't even read it since taking your eyes off your adversary will result in certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose City

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, though tightly filled. Deep into the game, I continue to find new shops and rooftops to visit. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the concept of creatures and humans coexisting. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, flying away as you approach like the real-life city birds obstructing my path while strolling in New York City. The monkey trio joyfully cling from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

An emphasis on urban life is a new direction for Pokémon, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city grows repetitive over time. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and underground routes provide minimal diversity. While I haven't been to Paris, the inspiration for the city, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where every district are the same, and they're all vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

In which the city really shines, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights in Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, giving them real weight and meaning. Conversely, fights within Scarlet & Violet happen in a field with few spectators watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you will combat on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Several distinct battle locales brim with character missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

Throughout the Royale, as well as subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the Pokédex, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I