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I don't recall exactly how the custom started, however I consistently call every one of my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Whether it's a core franchise title or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker always stays the same. Malfunction alternates from male to female avatars, featuring black and purple hair. Occasionally their fashion is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in the enduring series (and one of the more fashion-focused releases). Other times they're limited to the assorted school uniform designs from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they're always Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokemon Titles

Much like my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed between releases, with certain superficial, others substantial. But at their heart, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokemon through and through. The developers uncovered an almost flawless gameplay formula approximately 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to innovate upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character faces peril). Across all iteration, the fundamental gameplay loop of catching and fighting with charming creatures has remained consistent for almost as long as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, with its lack of arenas and focus on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several deviations into that formula. It takes place entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the expansive journeys of previous titles. Pokémon are meant to live together alongside humans, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we've only seen glimpses of before.

Far more radical than that Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the series' near-perfect core cycle experiences its biggest evolution yet, swapping methodical sequential fights with something more chaotic. And it's immensely fun, even as I feel eager for a new traditional entry. Though these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe sound like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

When initially reaching in Lumiose City, any intentions your created character had as a tourist get abandoned; you're immediately enlisted by the female guide (if playing as a male character; Urbain for female characters) to join her team of trainers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your starter and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Royale.

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 earn the opportunity to participate in an advancement bout. Win and you'll be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of achieving rank A.

Live-Action Combat: A New Approach

Character fights take place at night, while sneaking around the assigned combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly attempting to get a jump on a rival and launch a free attack, because everything happens instantaneously. Attacks operate on recharge periods, meaning both combatants can sometimes strike simultaneously at the same time (and knock each other out at once). It's a lot to get used to at first. Even after playing for nearly 30 hours, I still feel like there's much to master regarding using my Pokémon's moves in methods that work together synergistically. Placement also factors as a significant part during combat since your creatures will trail behind you or move to specific locations to execute moves (some are long-range, whereas others need to be in close proximity).

The live combat makes battles progress so quickly that I often sometimes cycling of attacks in the same order, despite this results in a less effective approach. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on response post-move execution, and that information is still present on screen in Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Sometimes, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your opponent will spell immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, although tightly filled. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering unseen stores and rooftops to explore. It is also rich with character, and fully realizes the vision of Pokémon and people living together. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, flying away as you approach like the real-life pigeons getting in my way when walking through NYC. The monkey trio joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures such as Kakuna cling on branches.

A focus on urban life represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a positive change. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose becomes rote over time. You might discover a passage you never visited, but it feels identical. The building design lacks character, and many elevated areas and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. While I haven't been to Paris, the inspiration for the city, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where every district are the same, and they're all alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

Where the city truly stands out, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I loved how Pokémon battles within Sword and Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them genuine significance and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet take place in a field with two random people observing. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching as they dine. An elite combat club will invite you to a competition, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of a certain faction with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Various individual combat settings overflow with personality that's absent from the larger city in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

During the Championship, along with quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the creature index, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I