I don't recall exactly how the custom started, but I consistently call every one of my Pokémon trainers Glitch.
Whether it's a core franchise title or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Malfunction switches between male and female characters, featuring dark and violet locks. Sometimes their fashion is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest installment in this long-running franchise (and one of the most fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're confined to the assorted academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they're always Glitch.
The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokemon Titles
Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have evolved between releases, with certain cosmetic, others substantial. But at their heart, they stay the same; they're consistently Pokémon through and through. The developers discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system some 30 years ago, and just recently truly attempted to evolve on it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar faces peril). Throughout all iteration, the fundamental mechanics cycle of catching and fighting alongside charming creatures has stayed consistent for nearly as long as my lifetime.
Breaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Like Arceus previously, with its absence of gyms and emphasis on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several deviations into that formula. It takes place entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the expansive journeys of earlier titles. Pokémon are meant to live together with humans, battlers and civilians, in manners we have merely seen glimpses of previously.
Even more radical is Z-A's real-time battle system. This is where the series' near-perfect gameplay loop undergoes its most significant transformation to date, swapping methodical sequential fights for something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, despite I feel ready for a new turn-based release. Although these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokemon game.
The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship
When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your custom avatar had as a tourist are discarded; you're immediately enlisted by Taunie (for male avatars; Urbain if female) to join their squad of trainers. You receive a creature from them as your starter and are sent into the Z-A Royale.
The Royale is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" progression from earlier titles. But here, you fight several trainers to earn the chance to compete in a promotion match. Win and you will be elevated to a higher tier, with the ultimate goal of achieving the top rank.
Live-Action Combat: A New Approach
Trainer battles occur at night, and sneaking around the assigned combat areas is very entertaining. I'm always attempting to surprise a rival and unleash a free attack, since everything happens instantaneously. Moves operate on recharge periods, indicating both combatants can sometimes attack each other concurrently (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's a lot to adjust to initially. Despite gaming for almost 30 hours, I continue to feel like there's much to master regarding using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Placement also factors as a major role in battles since your creatures will trail behind you or move to specific locations to execute moves (some are long-range, while others must be up close and personal).
The real-time action makes battles go so fast that I often sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, even when this amounts to a less effective approach. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on feedback after using an attack, and that information remains visible on screen in Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it because taking your eyes off your adversary will spell immediate defeat.
Exploring Lumiose City
Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, although densely packed. Deep into the game, I continue to find unseen stores and rooftops to visit. It's also rich with character, and perfectly captures the vision of Pokémon and people coexisting. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, flying away when you get near 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 city living is a new direction for the franchise, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive over time. You may stumble upon an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The building design lacks character, and most rooftops and underground routes provide minimal diversity. While 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 they're all vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose City doesn't have that. It features tan buildings topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered terraces.
The Areas Where The Metropolis Truly Shines
In which the city really shines, oddly enough, is inside buildings. I adored the way creature fights within Sword & Shield take place in football-like stadiums, giving them genuine significance and meaning. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet & Violet happen on a court with few spectators observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You'll battle in restaurants with diners observing while they eat. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a competition, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not Chandelure) suspended overhead. My favorite location is the beautifully designed headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Various individual combat settings brim with character missing in the overall metropolis in general.
The Familiarity of Repetition
During the Royale, as well as quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable feeling of, {"I
