🔗 Share this article

I'm not sure precisely when the custom began, but I always name every one of my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Whether it's a main series game or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Glitch alternates between male and female avatars, featuring black and purple hair. Occasionally their fashion is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in this enduring franchise (and among the more fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're confined to the various school uniform designs of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they're always Glitch.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Games

Similar to my trainers, the Pokemon titles have transformed between releases, with certain superficial, others significant. But at their heart, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. The developers discovered an almost flawless gameplay formula some three decades back, and just recently seriously tried to evolve on it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar faces peril). Across every version, the fundamental gameplay loop of catching and battling alongside adorable monsters has remained consistent for almost the same duration as I've been alive.

Shaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, with its absence of gyms and focus on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes into that formula. It's set completely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X and Y, ditching the region-spanning adventures of previous titles. Pokémon are intended to coexist with humans, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Far more radical than that Z-A's live-action battle system. This is where the series' almost ideal core cycle experiences its most significant evolution yet, swapping deliberate turn-based bouts with something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, despite I feel eager for a new turn-based release. Though these changes to the traditional Pokémon formula seem like they create an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

Upon first arriving in Lumiose City, any intentions your custom avatar had as a tourist are discarded; you're immediately enlisted by the female guide (if playing as a male character; Urbain if female) to join their squad of trainers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your first partner and are sent into the Z-A Championship.

The Championship is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement of past games. However here, you battle several opponents to earn the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you'll be promoted to a higher tier, with the final objective of achieving rank A.

Live-Action Combat: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles take place at night, while navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is very enjoyable. I'm always trying to get a jump on a rival and launch an unopposed move, since all actions occur instantaneously. Moves operate on cooldown timers, meaning both combatants may occasionally strike simultaneously at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's much to get used to at first. Even after playing for nearly 30 hours, I continue to feel that there is much to master in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in methods that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a major role during combat as your Pokémon will follow you around or move to specific locations to execute moves (some are long-range, while others need to be in close proximity).

The real-time action makes battles go so fast that I find myself repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, even when this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to pause during Z-A, and plenty of chances to become swamped. Creature fights depend on feedback after using an attack, and that data remains visible on screen within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Sometimes, you cannot process it since taking your eyes off your adversary will result in immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's relatively small, although tightly filled. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering unseen stores and rooftops to visit. It's also full of charm, and perfectly captures the concept of creatures and humans coexisting. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, taking flight when you get near like the real-life city birds obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The monkey trio gleefully hang from lampposts, and insect creatures such as Kakuna cling on branches.

A focus on urban life is a new direction for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, exploring Lumiose becomes rote over time. You might discover a passage you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The building design is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and sewer paths provide minimal diversity. Although I never visited Paris, the model behind the city, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a city where no two blocks are the same, and all are alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Really Excels

In which Lumiose City really shines, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I adored the way creature fights within Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, giving them genuine significance and importance. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet & Violet take place on a court with few spectators watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You'll battle in restaurants with diners observing while they eat. A fancy battle society will invite you to a competition, and you'll battle on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated base of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Several distinct battle locales brim with character missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Championship, as well as subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I