🔗 Share this article

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

Be it a core franchise title or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Glitch switches from male to female characters, with dark and violet hair. Sometimes their style is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in this enduring franchise (and one of the most style-conscious entries). Other times they're limited to the various school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Yet they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Titles

Similar to my trainers, the Pokemon titles have evolved across releases, with certain superficial, others substantial. However at their heart, they stay the same; they're always Pokémon to the core. The developers discovered an almost flawless mechanics system some three decades back, and just recently truly attempted to evolve on it with entries like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character faces peril). Throughout every version, the fundamental mechanics cycle of catching and battling with adorable monsters has remained consistent for almost the same duration as my lifetime.

Breaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, with its lack of arenas and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes into that framework. It's set completely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the expansive adventures of previous titles. Pokémon are meant to coexist alongside people, battlers and civilians, in manners we've only seen glimpses of previously.

Even more radical is Z-A's real-time battle system. This is where the series' near-perfect core cycle experiences its most significant transformation to date, replacing methodical sequential bouts for more frenetic action. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, even as I feel eager for a new turn-based release. Though these alterations to the traditional Pokémon formula seem like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your created character planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're promptly enlisted by Taunie (for male avatars; Urbain for female characters) to join their squad of trainers. You receive a creature from them as your first partner and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Royale is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement from earlier titles. But here, you battle a handful of trainers to gain the opportunity to compete in a promotion match. Succeed and you will be promoted to the next rank, with the final objective of achieving rank A.

Live-Action Combat: An Innovative Approach

Character fights occur at night, and sneaking around the assigned combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm always trying to surprise an opponent and launch a free attack, since all actions occur instantaneously. Attacks function with recharge periods, indicating both combatants may occasionally attack each other at the same time (and knock each other out at once). It's a lot to adjust to at first. Even after playing for nearly 30 hours, I still feel like there's plenty to learn in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in methods that complement each other. Positioning also plays a major role during combat since your creatures will follow you around or go to designated spots to execute moves (certain ones are distant, while others need to be up close and personal).

The real-time action makes battles progress so quickly 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 pause during Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on feedback after using an attack, and that data is still present on screen within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since taking your eyes off your opponent will spell certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose Metropolis

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, though densely packed. Far into the adventure, I continue to find new shops and elevated areas to explore. It's also full of charm, and perfectly captures the concept of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, taking flight as you approach like the real-life city birds getting in my way while strolling through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

An emphasis on city living is a new direction for the franchise, 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 building design is devoid of personality, and many elevated areas and underground routes offer little variety. While I haven't been to the French capital, the inspiration for the city, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a city where no two blocks differs, and they're all vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

Where the city really shines, surprisingly, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights within Sword & Shield occur in football-like stadiums, providing them genuine significance and importance. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen in a field with few spectators observing. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You'll battle in restaurants with patrons watching as they dine. An elite combat club will invite you to a competition, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of a certain faction with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Various individual battle locales overflow with personality that's absent from the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Familiarity of Repetition

Throughout the Championship, along with subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I