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

Whether it's a main series game or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Malfunction alternates from male to female avatars, featuring dark and violet locks. Sometimes their fashion is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in the long-running franchise (and among the more fashion-focused releases). Other times they're confined to the assorted academic attire designs of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they're always Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokemon Titles

Much like my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed across releases, with certain superficial, others substantial. However at their heart, they remain the same; they're always Pokemon to the core. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless gameplay formula some 30 years ago, and just recently truly attempted to evolve upon it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout all version, the fundamental gameplay loop of catching and fighting alongside adorable monsters has remained steady for nearly as long as I've been alive.

Breaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, featuring lack of arenas and focus on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple changes to that formula. It takes place entirely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the expansive journeys of earlier titles. Pokemon are intended to coexist with people, battlers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Far more radical is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the franchise's almost ideal core cycle experiences its biggest evolution to date, swapping deliberate sequential fights with more frenetic action. And it is immensely fun, even as I feel eager for a new traditional entry. Although these changes to the traditional Pokémon formula seem like they form a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

Upon initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your custom avatar planned as a visitor are discarded; you're promptly recruited by Taunie (for male avatars; the male guide for female characters) to join their squad of battlers. You receive a creature from them as your first partner and you're dispatched into the Z-A Championship.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" progression of past games. However here, you fight several opponents to gain the chance to compete in a promotion match. Succeed and you will be elevated to the next rank, with the final objective of achieving the top rank.

Real-Time Combat: An Innovative Frontier

Trainer battles occur during nighttime, and sneaking around the assigned battle zones is very enjoyable. I'm always trying to surprise an opponent and launch an unopposed move, since everything happens instantaneously. Moves function with recharge periods, meaning both combatants can sometimes strike simultaneously concurrently (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's a lot to get used to initially. Even after playing for nearly thirty hours, I continue to feel like there's plenty to learn regarding employing my creatures' attacks in ways that complement each other. Positioning also plays a major role during combat since your creatures will follow you around or move to designated spots to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others need to be in close proximity).

The real-time action causes fights go so fast that I find myself repeating sequences through moves in the same order, even when this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to pause in Z-A, and plenty of 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 since diverting attention from your adversary will result in immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, although tightly filled. Deep into the game, I continue to find unseen stores and elevated areas to visit. It is also rich with character, and fully realizes the vision of creatures and humans living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path when walking through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang on streetlights, and insect creatures such as Kakuna cling to trees.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive over time. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The building design lacks character, and most rooftops and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I haven't been to Paris, the inspiration for Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a city where every district are the same, and all are alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and simply designed balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

Where the city really shines, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I loved the way creature fights within Sword and Shield occur in arena-like venues, giving them real weight and importance. Conversely, fights within Scarlet and Violet happen on a court with two random people watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You will fight in eateries with patrons watching while they eat. An elite combat club will invite you to a tournament, and you will combat on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated headquarters of a certain faction with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Several distinct battle locales overflow with personality that's absent from the larger city as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Royale, as well as quelling rogue powered-up creatures and completing the creature index, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I