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I'm not sure precisely when the tradition began, however I consistently call every one of my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Be it a core franchise title or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Malfunction switches from male to female characters, with dark and violet locks. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in the enduring franchise (and one of the most style-conscious releases). At other moments they're limited to the various academic attire designs from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they're always Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokemon Games

Similar to my characters, the Pokemon titles have transformed across releases, some superficial, others significant. But at their heart, they remain the same; they're consistently Pokemon through and through. The developers discovered an almost flawless mechanics system some 30 years ago, and just recently truly attempted to innovate on it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Across all version, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and fighting with charming creatures has stayed steady for nearly the same duration as my lifetime.

Shaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and emphasis on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple changes to that formula. It's set completely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the expansive adventures of earlier games. Pokémon are intended to coexist alongside people, trainers and civilians, in ways we've only glimpsed before.

Even more radical than that Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. It's here the series' near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its most significant evolution to date, replacing deliberate turn-based fights for more frenetic action. And it's immensely fun, despite I feel ready for another turn-based release. Although these changes to the traditional Pokémon formula seem like they form a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

Upon initially reaching in Lumiose City, any intentions your created character planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly recruited by Taunie (if playing as a male character; the male guide if female) to become part of their squad of battlers. You're gifted a creature from them as your first partner and are sent into the Z-A Royale.

The Championship is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement from earlier titles. But here, you fight several trainers to earn the chance to participate in an advancement bout. Succeed and you'll be promoted to a higher tier, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Live-Action Combat: A New Approach

Character fights take place during nighttime, and sneaking around the designated battle zones is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly attempting to get a jump on a rival and unleash an unopposed move, because all actions occur instantaneously. Attacks operate on recharge periods, meaning both combatants may occasionally attack each other at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's a lot to get used to at first. Even after playing for nearly 30 hours, I continue to feel like there's plenty to learn regarding employing my creatures' attacks in methods that work together synergistically. Placement also factors as a significant part in battles since your creatures will trail behind you or move to designated spots to perform attacks (some are long-range, while others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles go so fast that I often repeating sequences through moves in identical patterns, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to pause during Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles depend on feedback after using an attack, and that data is still present on the display within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Sometimes, you can't even read it because diverting attention from your adversary will result in immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, though densely packed. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering unseen stores and elevated areas to explore. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the concept of creatures and humans coexisting. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, taking flight as you approach similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path when walking through NYC. The monkey trio joyfully cling on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on urban life is a new direction for the franchise, and a welcome one. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. Although I haven't been to the French capital, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where no two blocks are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has tan buildings topped with colored roofs and simply designed terraces.

Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

Where the city truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights in Sword & Shield take place in football-like stadiums, providing them real weight and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen on a court with two random people observing. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You'll battle in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a competition, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) hanging above. My favorite location is the beautifully designed headquarters of a certain faction with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Several distinct battle locales brim with character that's absent from the larger city in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

Throughout the Championship, as well as quelling rogue powered-up creatures and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I