🔗 Share this article

I'm not sure exactly how the custom began, however I consistently call all my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Be it a core franchise title or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Glitch alternates from male to female avatars, with dark and violet locks. Occasionally their fashion is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in the enduring series (and one of the more fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're limited to the various school uniform styles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they remain Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokémon Games

Much like my trainers, the Pokémon games have transformed across releases, some cosmetic, some substantial. However at their core, they stay the same; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. Game Freak discovered an almost flawless gameplay formula approximately 30 years ago, and has only seriously tried to evolve on it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout all iteration, the core mechanics cycle of capturing and battling alongside adorable monsters has stayed steady for nearly 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 compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several deviations into that framework. It takes place completely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the region-spanning journeys of earlier titles. Pokemon are meant to coexist with people, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we have merely glimpsed previously.

Even more radical than that Z-A's real-time battle system. It's here the franchise's almost ideal gameplay loop undergoes its most significant evolution yet, swapping methodical turn-based bouts with more frenetic action. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, even as I feel eager for another traditional release. Though these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe sound like they create a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

When initially reaching in Lumiose City, any intentions your created character planned as a visitor are discarded; you're promptly recruited by Taunie (if playing as a male character; the male guide if female) to join their squad of battlers. You receive a creature from them as your starter 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. However here, you battle a handful of opponents to gain the chance to participate in an advancement bout. Succeed and you'll be elevated to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of reaching rank A.

Live-Action Battles: A New Approach

Character fights occur at night, and navigating stealthily the assigned combat areas is very enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to surprise a rival and unleash an unopposed move, since everything happens instantaneously. Attacks function with cooldown timers, indicating both combatants may occasionally attack each other at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's much to adjust to initially. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel like there's plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in ways that complement each other. Placement also plays a significant part during combat since your creatures will follow you around or move to designated spots to execute moves (some are long-range, while others must be in close proximity).

The real-time action makes battles progress so quickly that I find myself repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, despite this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There's no time to pause in Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Creature fights rely on response after using an attack, and that information remains visible on the display in Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it because diverting attention from your opponent will spell immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose City

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's relatively small, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and rooftops to visit. It is also full of charm, and fully realizes the concept of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near like the real-life pigeons getting in my way while strolling through NYC. The monkey trio joyfully cling on streetlights, and insect creatures such as Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

A focus on city living represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Even so, navigating the city grows repetitive over time. You might discover a passage you never visited, but it feels identical. The architecture lacks character, and many elevated areas and underground routes offer little variety. While I haven't been to Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where every district differs, and all are alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has tan buildings topped with colored roofs and simply designed terraces.

Where The Metropolis Really Excels

Where Lumiose City truly stands out, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I loved the way creature fights within Sword and Shield take place in football-like stadiums, giving them real weight and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen on a court with few spectators watching. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You'll battle in restaurants with diners observing as they dine. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a competition, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed base of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Various individual battle locales brim with character missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Familiarity of Routine

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