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

Whether it's a core franchise title or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Glitch alternates from male to female avatars, featuring black and purple hair. Occasionally their fashion is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in the enduring series (and one of the most fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're limited to the assorted academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they're always Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokemon Games

Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have evolved across installments, with certain cosmetic, some substantial. But at their heart, they stay identical; they're consistently Pokémon through and through. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect mechanics system approximately three decades back, and has only truly attempted to evolve on it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character is now in danger). Throughout all iteration, the core gameplay loop of catching and fighting alongside charming creatures has remained steady for nearly as long as I've been alive.

Breaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, featuring absence of gyms and emphasis on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple deviations into that framework. It's set completely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the expansive journeys of earlier titles. Pokémon are meant to coexist with humans, trainers and civilians, in ways we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Even more drastic than that Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the series' near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its biggest transformation yet, swapping deliberate turn-based fights with something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, despite I feel ready for a new traditional entry. Though these alterations to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they form a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your created character planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly enlisted by Taunie (if playing as a male character; the male guide if female) to become part of her team of battlers. You receive a creature from them as your starter and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Championship is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" progression of past games. But here, you battle a handful of opponents to gain the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you will be elevated to the next rank, with the final objective of reaching the top rank.

Real-Time Combat: A New Frontier

Trainer battles take place during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm always trying to get a jump on a rival and launch a free attack, because all actions occur in real time. Moves function with cooldown timers, indicating both combatants can sometimes strike simultaneously concurrently (and defeat each other at once). It's a lot to adjust to initially. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel like there's plenty to learn regarding employing my creatures' attacks in ways that work together synergistically. Placement also factors as a significant part during combat as your Pokémon will follow you around or go to designated spots to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others need to be up close and personal).

The real-time action causes fights go so fast that I find myself sometimes cycling through moves in identical patterns, even when this amounts to a less effective approach. There isn't moment to breathe in Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on response after using an attack, and that information is still present on screen within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it since taking your eyes off your opponent will result in immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, although densely packed. Deep into the game, I continue to find unseen stores and elevated areas to explore. It is also full of charm, and perfectly captures the vision of Pokémon and people coexisting. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, taking flight when you get near similar to actual pigeons getting in my way when walking in New York City. The monkey trio joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures like Kakuna cling on branches.

An emphasis on urban life is a new direction for the franchise, and a positive change. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose becomes rote over time. You may stumble upon a passage you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and underground routes provide minimal diversity. While I haven't been to Paris, the model behind the city, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where no two blocks differs, and they're all alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It has tan buildings topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Really Excels

In which Lumiose City really shines, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights in Sword and Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them genuine significance and importance. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet & Violet happen in a field with two random people observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You will fight in eateries with diners observing while they eat. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) hanging above. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated base of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Several distinct combat settings brim with character missing in the larger city in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

During the Championship, along with subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I