Pokémon Legends: Z-A - A Fresh Evolution Yet Remaining Faithful to Its Origins

I'm not sure exactly how the custom started, however I consistently call every one of my Pokemon characters Glitch.

Whether it's a core franchise title or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Malfunction switches from male to female avatars, with dark and violet locks. Occasionally their fashion is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in the long-running series (and among the more style-conscious releases). At other moments they're confined to the assorted school uniform styles of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they're always Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokémon Titles

Similar to my trainers, the Pokemon titles have transformed across releases, with certain cosmetic, others substantial. However at their heart, they remain the same; they're always Pokémon through and through. The developers discovered an almost flawless gameplay formula approximately 30 years ago, and has only seriously tried to evolve on it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar faces peril). Across every version, the fundamental mechanics cycle of catching and battling with adorable monsters has remained consistent for almost as long as my lifetime.

Shaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several deviations into that framework. It's set entirely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the region-spanning journeys of earlier titles. Pokemon are meant to coexist with people, trainers and non-trainers alike, in ways we have merely seen glimpses of before.

Even more drastic than that Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the series' near-perfect gameplay loop undergoes its most significant evolution yet, swapping methodical turn-based bouts with something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, even as I feel ready for a new traditional release. Though these alterations to the traditional Pokemon recipe sound like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokemon game.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

When initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your created character had as a tourist are discarded; you're immediately 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 are sent into the Z-A Royale.

The Championship serves as the centerpiece of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement of past games. However here, you fight a handful of opponents to earn the opportunity to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you will be elevated to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of achieving rank A.

Live-Action Combat: An Innovative Frontier

Trainer battles take place during nighttime, and sneaking around the assigned combat areas is very entertaining. I'm constantly attempting to get a jump on an opponent and unleash an unopposed move, because everything happens in real time. Attacks function with recharge periods, meaning both combatants can sometimes attack each other concurrently (and knock each other out at once). It's much to adjust to initially. Even after gaming for almost thirty 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 plays a major role during combat as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to specific locations to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, whereas others need to be up close and personal).

The real-time action causes fights go so fast that I find myself repeating sequences through moves in identical patterns, even when this results in a less effective approach. There isn't moment to pause in Z-A, and plenty of chances to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on feedback post-move execution, and that information remains visible on the display in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your opponent will result in certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, though 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 Pokémon and people coexisting. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away as you approach similar to actual city birds obstructing my path while strolling through NYC. The Pan Trio monkeys gleefully hang from lampposts, and insect creatures such as Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive over time. You may stumble upon a passage you never visited, but you wouldn't know it. The architecture lacks character, and many elevated areas and underground routes offer little variety. Although I haven't been to Paris, the model behind the city, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where every district are the same, and all are alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and simply designed terraces.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

In which Lumiose City truly stands out, surprisingly, is indoors. I loved how Pokémon battles within Sword & Shield occur in football-like stadiums, giving them real weight and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen in a field with few spectators observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You will fight in restaurants with diners observing as they dine. A fancy battle society will invite you to a tournament, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated headquarters of a certain faction with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales overflow with personality that's absent from the larger city in general.

The Familiarity of Repetition

During the Royale, along with subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and filling the creature index, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I