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I don't recall precisely when the tradition started, but I always name all my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Whether it's a core franchise title or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction switches from male to female characters, featuring black and purple hair. Occasionally their fashion is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in this enduring series (and among the most fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're limited to the various academic attire designs from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokemon Games

Much like my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed between releases, some superficial, some substantial. But at their heart, they remain the same; they're consistently Pokemon through and through. Game Freak discovered an almost flawless gameplay formula some 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to evolve on it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Across every iteration, the fundamental gameplay loop of catching and battling with charming creatures has remained consistent for almost the same duration as I've been alive.

Shaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and focus on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several deviations to that formula. It's set entirely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the expansive adventures of previous games. Pokémon are meant to coexist with people, trainers and civilians, in manners we've only seen glimpses of previously.

Even more radical than that Z-A's real-time battle system. It's here the series' almost ideal core cycle undergoes its most significant evolution yet, swapping deliberate sequential fights for more frenetic action. And it's immensely fun, even as I feel eager for another turn-based entry. Though these alterations to the classic Pokémon formula seem like they form a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

Upon first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your created character had as a tourist get abandoned; you're promptly enlisted by Taunie (for male avatars; the male guide if female) to become part of her team of battlers. You receive a creature from them as your first partner and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement from earlier titles. But here, you fight several trainers to earn the chance to participate in an advancement bout. Win and you will be promoted to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of achieving rank A.

Real-Time Battles: An Innovative Frontier

Character fights take place during nighttime, while sneaking around the designated battle zones is very enjoyable. I'm always attempting to get a jump on an opponent and launch a free attack, since all actions occur instantaneously. Attacks function with recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent can sometimes attack each other at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's a lot to adjust to at first. Despite playing for nearly thirty hours, I still feel that there is much to master regarding using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a major role during combat since your creatures will follow you around or go to designated spots to execute moves (some are long-range, whereas others must be in close proximity).

The real-time action causes fights go so fast that I often sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to pause during Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles depend on feedback post-move execution, and that information remains visible on the display within Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Sometimes, you cannot process it because diverting attention from your opponent will result in immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, although densely packed. Far into the adventure, I continue to find unseen stores and rooftops to visit. It is also full of charm, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people 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 on streetlights, and insect creatures like Kakuna cling on branches.

A focus on city living represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose becomes rote eventually. You might discover a passage you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture lacks character, and most rooftops and underground routes offer little variety. Although I never visited Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where no two blocks are the same, and they're all alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It has beige structures topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

Where Lumiose City truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I loved the way creature fights within Sword & Shield occur 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 observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You'll battle in eateries with patrons watching while they eat. A fancy battle society will invite you to a tournament, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated headquarters of a certain faction with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Various individual battle locales overflow with personality that's absent from the overall metropolis in general.

The Familiarity of Repetition

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