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I'm not sure exactly how the custom began, but I consistently call every one of my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Be it a main series game or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Malfunction alternates from male to female characters, featuring black and purple locks. Occasionally their style is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in this enduring franchise (and among the most fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're confined to the various school uniform designs from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Titles

Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have evolved between releases, with certain superficial, others significant. However at their core, they stay identical; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. The developers uncovered an almost flawless mechanics system approximately 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to evolve upon it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character is now in danger). Across every version, the core gameplay loop of catching and battling alongside charming creatures has remained consistent for nearly the same duration as my lifetime.

Breaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, with its absence of gyms and focus on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple changes to that framework. It takes place entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the region-spanning adventures of earlier titles. Pokemon are intended to live together alongside humans, trainers and civilians, in manners we have merely glimpsed before.

Far more radical than that Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. It's here the franchise's near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its biggest evolution to date, swapping deliberate sequential fights with more frenetic action. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, despite I feel ready for another traditional entry. Though these alterations to the traditional Pokemon recipe sound like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

When first arriving in Lumiose City, any intentions your created character had as a tourist get abandoned; you're immediately recruited by Taunie (for male avatars; Urbain if female) to become part of their squad of battlers. You receive a creature from them as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" progression from earlier titles. However here, you fight a handful of opponents to earn the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you'll be promoted to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of achieving the top rank.

Real-Time Combat: An Innovative Approach

Character fights occur at night, while sneaking around the designated combat areas is very enjoyable. I'm always trying to surprise a rival and unleash an unopposed move, because all actions occur instantaneously. Attacks operate on cooldown timers, indicating you and your opponent may occasionally strike simultaneously at the same time (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's a lot to adjust to at first. Despite playing for nearly 30 hours, I still feel like there's plenty to learn in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in methods that work together synergistically. Placement also factors as a major role in battles since your creatures will trail behind you or move to designated spots to execute moves (certain ones are distant, 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 identical patterns, despite this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to pause during Z-A, and numerous chances to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on feedback post-move execution, and that data remains visible on screen in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Sometimes, you can't even read it because diverting attention from your adversary will result in certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, although densely packed. Far into the adventure, I continue to find unseen stores and elevated areas to explore. It's 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 like the real-life city birds getting in my way when walking through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling from lampposts, and insect creatures such as Kakuna cling on branches.

An emphasis on city living represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote eventually. You may stumble upon an alley you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The building design is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and underground routes offer little variety. Although I haven't been to Paris, the inspiration for the city, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a city where no two blocks differs, and they're all vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It features beige structures with blue or red roofs and simply designed terraces.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Really Excels

Where Lumiose City really shines, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I adored how Pokémon battles in Sword and Shield occur in football-like stadiums, providing them real weight and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet & Violet happen on a court with few spectators watching. It's a total letdown. 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 competition, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. My favorite location is the beautifully designed base of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Various individual combat settings overflow with personality missing in the larger city in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

Throughout the Championship, as well as quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the creature index, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I