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I don't recall exactly how the custom began, but I consistently call every one of my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Whether it's a main series game or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Malfunction alternates between male and female avatars, featuring dark and violet locks. Occasionally their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in this long-running series (and among the more fashion-focused entries). Other times they're confined to the assorted academic attire styles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Titles

Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have transformed between releases, with certain cosmetic, some substantial. However at their core, they remain the same; they're consistently Pokemon through and through. The developers uncovered an almost flawless mechanics system approximately 30 years ago, and has only seriously tried to innovate upon it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character is now in danger). Throughout every version, the core mechanics cycle of catching and fighting with charming creatures has stayed steady for almost the same duration as my lifetime.

Shaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and focus on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several deviations into that formula. It's set completely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the expansive adventures of previous titles. Pokémon are intended to coexist with people, trainers and civilians, in manners we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Far more radical than that Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the franchise's near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its most significant evolution yet, replacing methodical turn-based bouts for more frenetic action. And it's immensely fun, despite I feel ready for another turn-based release. Although these alterations to the classic Pokémon formula seem like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

Upon initially reaching in Lumiose City, whatever plans your created character had as a tourist get abandoned; you're promptly enlisted by the female guide (if playing as a male character; the male guide for female characters) to join their squad of battlers. You receive a creature from them as your starter and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Championship is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement from earlier titles. However here, you fight several trainers to earn the opportunity to compete in a promotion match. Succeed and you'll be promoted to a higher tier, with the final objective of reaching the top rank.

Real-Time Battles: A New Approach

Character fights take place during nighttime, while sneaking around the assigned combat areas is quite entertaining. I'm constantly attempting to get a jump on an opponent and launch an unopposed move, because everything happens instantaneously. Attacks function with cooldown timers, meaning both combatants may occasionally attack each other at the same time (and defeat each other at once). It's much to get used to at first. Even after playing for nearly 30 hours, I still feel that there is plenty to learn regarding employing my creatures' attacks in ways that work together synergistically. Positioning also plays a major role in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or move to specific locations to execute moves (certain ones are distant, whereas others must be up close and personal).

The live combat makes battles progress so quickly that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, despite this amounts to a less effective approach. There's no time to pause in Z-A, and numerous opportunities to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on feedback post-move execution, and that information remains visible on the display within Z-A, but whips by quickly. Sometimes, you cannot process it because taking your eyes off your adversary will spell certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, though densely packed. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering unseen stores and rooftops to explore. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the concept of creatures and humans coexisting. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near like the real-life pigeons obstructing my path while strolling through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna cling to trees.

An emphasis on urban life is a new direction for Pokémon, and a positive change. Nonetheless, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You might discover a passage you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture lacks character, and most rooftops and underground routes provide minimal diversity. While I never visited the French capital, the inspiration for the city, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where no two blocks differs, and they're all alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It features tan buildings with blue or red roofs and simply designed balconies.

Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

In which Lumiose City really shines, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I adored the way creature fights within Sword and Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them real weight and meaning. Conversely, fights within Scarlet and Violet take place on a court with two random people watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You'll battle in restaurants with diners observing as they dine. A fancy battle society will invite you to a competition, and you will combat on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated base of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Various individual battle locales overflow with personality missing in the larger city in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

Throughout the Royale, along with quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I