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

Whether it's a main series title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Glitch alternates from male to female avatars, featuring dark and violet hair. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in the long-running franchise (and among the more fashion-focused entries). Other times they're limited to the assorted school uniform designs of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they're always Glitch.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Games

Similar to my characters, the Pokemon titles have evolved across installments, with certain superficial, some substantial. But at their heart, they remain the same; they're consistently Pokemon through and through. The developers uncovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to innovate upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character is now in danger). Across all iteration, the core mechanics cycle of catching and battling alongside charming creatures has stayed consistent for nearly as long as my lifetime.

Breaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, with its lack of arenas and focus on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several deviations to that framework. It takes place completely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning journeys of earlier games. Pokémon are meant to coexist alongside people, trainers and civilians, in manners we've only glimpsed before.

Even more radical is Z-A's real-time battle system. It's here the series' almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its biggest transformation to date, replacing methodical sequential bouts for more frenetic action. And it's immensely fun, despite I feel eager for another traditional release. Although these changes to the classic Pokémon formula seem like they form an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

When initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your custom avatar planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly enlisted by Taunie (if playing as a male character; the male guide for female characters) to become part of their squad of battlers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your starter and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement from earlier titles. But here, you fight several trainers to gain the opportunity to participate in a promotion match. Win and you will be promoted to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of reaching rank A.

Live-Action Combat: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles occur during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the assigned battle zones is very entertaining. I'm always attempting to surprise a rival and launch a free attack, since all actions occur instantaneously. Attacks operate on recharge periods, meaning you and your opponent can sometimes strike simultaneously concurrently (and knock each other out at once). It's much to get used to initially. Even after gaming for almost thirty hours, I still feel that there is plenty to learn regarding using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a major role during combat as your Pokémon will trail behind you or move to designated spots to execute moves (some are long-range, whereas others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat causes fights go so fast that I often sometimes cycling through moves in the same order, despite this results in a less effective approach. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on feedback post-move execution, and that information is still present on the display in Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Sometimes, you cannot process it since taking your eyes off your opponent will result in immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I continue to find unseen stores and rooftops to visit. It's also rich with character, and perfectly captures the vision of Pokémon and people living together. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, taking flight when you get near like the real-life pigeons getting in my way while strolling in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang from lampposts, and insect creatures such as Kakuna cling on branches.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The building design is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and underground routes provide minimal diversity. Although I haven't been to the French capital, the model behind the city, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where no two blocks differs, and all are alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It has beige structures topped with colored roofs and simply designed terraces.

Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

In which Lumiose City really shines, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I loved how Pokémon battles in Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them genuine significance and meaning. Conversely, fights within Scarlet and Violet happen on a court with few spectators observing. It's a total letdown. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You'll battle in eateries with diners observing as they dine. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you will combat on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Various individual battle locales overflow with personality missing in the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Championship, as well as subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the creature index, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I