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I don't recall exactly how the tradition started, however I always name all my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Be it a main series game or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Malfunction switches between male and female characters, with black and purple hair. Occasionally their fashion is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in the enduring franchise (and among the more fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're limited to the assorted academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they're always Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokemon Games

Much like my characters, the Pokemon titles have transformed across installments, with certain cosmetic, others substantial. However at their core, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokemon through and through. The developers discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system approximately three decades back, and just recently seriously tried to innovate on it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character faces peril). Across every iteration, the core gameplay loop of catching and battling with adorable monsters has stayed steady for nearly as long as my lifetime.

Breaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, with its absence of gyms and emphasis on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several changes to that framework. It takes place entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the expansive adventures of previous titles. Pokemon are meant to live together alongside people, battlers and non-trainers alike, in ways we've only seen glimpses of before.

Even more radical than that Z-A's live-action battle system. This is where the series' near-perfect core cycle experiences its biggest transformation to date, replacing deliberate sequential bouts for more frenetic action. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, even as I find myself ready for a new turn-based release. Though these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they form an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

When initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your custom avatar had as a tourist get abandoned; you're promptly enlisted by Taunie (if playing as a male character; Urbain for female characters) to join their squad of battlers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Royale is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" progression from earlier titles. But here, you battle a handful of trainers to earn the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Win and you will be promoted to the next rank, with the final objective of reaching the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: A New Approach

Character fights take place during nighttime, while navigating stealthily the designated battle zones is quite entertaining. I'm always attempting to get a jump on an opponent and launch a free attack, since all actions occur in real time. Attacks function with cooldown timers, meaning you and your opponent can sometimes strike simultaneously concurrently (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's much to adjust to initially. Even after playing for nearly 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 plays a significant part during combat since your creatures will trail behind you or move to designated spots to execute moves (some are long-range, while others must be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles go so fast that I often repeating sequences of attacks in identical patterns, despite this amounts to a less effective approach. There isn't moment to breathe in Z-A, and plenty of chances to become swamped. Pokémon battles depend on feedback after using an attack, and that information remains visible on the display in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since taking your eyes off your adversary will result in immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, though tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to visit. It is also rich with character, and fully realizes the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, taking flight when you get near similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path when walking through NYC. The monkey trio joyfully cling from lampposts, and insect creatures like Kakuna cling on branches.

A focus on urban life is a new direction for the franchise, and a positive change. Nonetheless, navigating the city grows repetitive over time. You might discover a passage 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 inspiration for Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a city where no two blocks differs, and all are vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and simply designed terraces.

Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

Where the city truly stands out, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I loved how Pokémon battles in Sword & Shield take place in football-like stadiums, giving them genuine significance and meaning. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet & Violet happen in a field with two random people watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You'll battle in eateries with diners observing as they dine. A fancy battle society will invite you to a competition, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of a certain faction with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Several distinct combat settings overflow with personality that's absent from the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Comfort of Repetition

Throughout the Royale, as well as quelling rogue powered-up creatures and filling the creature index, there is an unavoidable feeling of, {"I