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I'm not sure precisely when the tradition started, but I consistently call all my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Be it a core franchise game or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Glitch switches from male to female avatars, featuring dark and violet locks. Occasionally their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in the long-running series (and one of the most fashion-focused entries). Other times they're limited to the various academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they remain Glitch.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokémon Games

Similar to my characters, the Pokémon games have transformed between releases, some cosmetic, others significant. However at their core, they remain identical; they're always Pokemon through and through. The developers discovered an almost flawless gameplay formula some three decades back, and just recently truly attempted to evolve upon it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character faces peril). Throughout all iteration, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and fighting with charming creatures has stayed steady for nearly the same duration as my lifetime.

Breaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple deviations to that formula. It takes place completely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X and Y, ditching the expansive journeys of previous titles. Pokemon are meant to coexist with people, trainers and civilians, in manners we have merely glimpsed before.

Even more drastic is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. It's here the franchise's near-perfect core cycle undergoes its most significant evolution yet, swapping deliberate turn-based bouts for more frenetic action. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, even as I find myself eager for another turn-based release. Although these alterations to the classic Pokémon formula sound like they create a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

Upon first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your custom avatar planned as a visitor are discarded; you're promptly recruited by the female guide (for male avatars; the male guide for female characters) to become part of her team of trainers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement of past games. But here, you fight several trainers to gain the chance to participate in a promotion match. Succeed and you'll be promoted to the next rank, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Combat: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles take place at night, and sneaking around the assigned battle zones is very enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to get a jump on an opponent and launch an unopposed move, since all actions occur instantaneously. Attacks function with cooldown timers, meaning you and your opponent may occasionally attack each other concurrently (and defeat each other at once). It's much to get used to initially. Even after playing for nearly 30 hours, I continue to feel like there's much to master in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in methods that work together synergistically. Positioning also plays a significant part during combat since your creatures will trail behind you or go to designated spots to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, whereas others must 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 results in a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to pause in Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on feedback after using an attack, and that information is still present on screen in Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your opponent will spell immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's relatively small, although densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering unseen stores and rooftops to visit. It's also rich with character, and perfectly captures the concept of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near similar to actual city birds obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures like Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a positive change. Nonetheless, navigating the city becomes rote eventually. You may stumble upon a passage you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas 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 city where no two blocks are the same, and all are alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It features tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

Where the city really shines, surprisingly, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights within Sword & Shield take place in football-like stadiums, providing them real weight and meaning. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet & Violet take place on a court with few spectators watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You'll battle in eateries with diners observing as they dine. An elite combat club will invite you to a competition, and you'll battle on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Several distinct battle locales overflow with personality that's absent from the larger city as a whole.

The Comfort of Repetition

Throughout the Championship, as well as subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I