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I don't recall exactly how the tradition began, however I consistently call every one of 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 always stays the same. Glitch alternates from male to female characters, with dark and violet hair. Occasionally their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in this enduring series (and one of the most fashion-focused entries). Other times they're confined to the assorted academic attire styles of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they're always Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokemon Titles

Similar to my characters, the Pokémon games have transformed between installments, with certain superficial, others significant. However at their core, they stay the same; they're always Pokemon to the core. The developers discovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula approximately 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to innovate on it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout every version, the core gameplay loop of capturing and battling alongside charming creatures has stayed consistent for nearly the same duration as I've been alive.

Breaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, with its absence of gyms and emphasis on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several changes into that formula. It's set entirely in a single location, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the expansive journeys of previous titles. Pokémon are intended to live together alongside people, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we've only seen glimpses of before.

Even more radical is Z-A's live-action battle system. This is where the series' almost ideal core cycle experiences its most significant evolution yet, swapping methodical sequential bouts with more frenetic action. And it's immensely fun, even as I find myself ready for a new traditional entry. Although these changes to the classic Pokémon formula seem like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

When initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, any intentions your created character planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're immediately recruited by Taunie (for male avatars; the male guide for female characters) to join her team of battlers. You're gifted one of her Pokémon as your first partner and you're dispatched into the Z-A Royale.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" progression of past games. But here, you battle a handful of opponents to gain the chance to participate in a promotion match. Win and you will be elevated to the next rank, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Live-Action Battles: A New Frontier

Character fights occur during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the assigned combat areas is very entertaining. I'm always attempting to surprise an opponent and launch a free attack, because all actions occur in real time. Moves function with recharge periods, indicating both combatants can sometimes strike simultaneously at the same time (and knock each other out 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 ways that work together synergistically. Positioning also factors as a major role during combat as your Pokémon will follow you around or go to designated spots to perform attacks (some are long-range, while others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat causes fights go so fast that I find myself repeating sequences through moves in the same order, even when this results in a less effective approach. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on response post-move execution, and that information remains visible on screen in Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your opponent will spell certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I continue to find unseen stores and elevated areas to explore. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the vision of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang on streetlights, and insect creatures like Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

A focus on city living is a new direction for Pokémon, and a positive change. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose becomes rote over time. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture lacks character, and many elevated areas and underground routes offer little variety. Although I never visited Paris, the model behind the city, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a city where no two blocks differs, and they're all alive with uniqueness that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It features tan buildings topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

In which Lumiose City really shines, surprisingly, is indoors. I loved the way creature fights within Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, giving them genuine significance and meaning. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet & Violet happen on a court with two random people watching. 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 invite you to a competition, and you will combat on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated base of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales overflow with personality missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

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