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I don't recall exactly how the tradition started, however I consistently call all my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Be it a main series title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Glitch switches between male and female avatars, featuring black and purple hair. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in the enduring series (and among the more style-conscious releases). At other moments they're confined to the assorted academic attire designs from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokémon Games

Similar to my trainers, the Pokémon games have evolved across installments, some superficial, some significant. But at their core, they remain identical; they're always Pokemon through and through. The developers discovered an almost flawless mechanics system approximately 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to evolve on it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Across every version, the core mechanics cycle of catching and fighting alongside adorable monsters has stayed consistent for almost as long as I've been alive.

Shaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, with its absence of gyms and focus on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several changes to that framework. It takes place entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, ditching the expansive journeys of previous games. Pokémon are intended to coexist with people, battlers and non-trainers alike, in ways we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Far more drastic than that Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the series' almost ideal core cycle experiences its most significant transformation yet, replacing deliberate sequential bouts for something more chaotic. And it is immensely fun, despite I find myself ready for another traditional entry. Although these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe sound like they form a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

Upon initially reaching in Lumiose City, 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 if female) to become part of their squad of trainers. You receive a creature from them as your starter and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" progression of past games. However here, you battle a handful of trainers to gain the chance to participate in an advancement bout. Succeed and you'll be promoted to the next rank, with the final objective of reaching the top rank.

Live-Action Battles: A New Frontier

Trainer battles take place during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the assigned battle zones is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to get a jump on an opponent and unleash an unopposed move, because all actions occur in real time. Moves function with cooldown timers, meaning both combatants may occasionally attack each other concurrently (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's a lot to get used to initially. Despite gaming for almost thirty hours, I still feel that there is plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in methods that work together synergistically. Positioning also factors as a major role during combat since your creatures will follow you around or move to designated spots to execute moves (some are long-range, while others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat makes battles progress so quickly that I often repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, even when this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles rely on feedback after using an attack, and that data is still present on screen in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Sometimes, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your opponent will result in certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose City

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, though densely packed. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering unseen stores and elevated areas to visit. It is also full of charm, and fully realizes the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, taking flight when you get near similar to actual pigeons getting in my way when walking through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on city living represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You might discover a passage you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The building design is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and sewer paths offer little variety. While I haven't been to the French capital, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a city where every district are the same, and all are alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has beige structures topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

In which Lumiose City truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights within Sword and Shield occur in football-like stadiums, giving them real weight and meaning. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen in a field with two random people observing. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching while they eat. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you'll battle on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed base of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Various individual battle locales brim with character that's absent from the overall metropolis in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

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