Pokemon Legends: Z-A - A Fresh Transformation Yet Remaining Faithful to Its Origins

I don't recall exactly how the tradition started, however I always name all my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Whether it's a core franchise title or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Glitch alternates between male and female characters, with dark and violet locks. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in the long-running franchise (and among the more fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're limited to the assorted academic attire designs of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Malfunction.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokémon Games

Much like my trainers, the Pokemon titles have transformed across releases, some superficial, others substantial. But at their heart, they stay the same; they're consistently Pokemon to the core. The developers discovered an almost flawless gameplay formula some 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to innovate on it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character faces peril). Throughout every version, the fundamental gameplay loop of catching and battling with adorable monsters has remained consistent for almost as long as my lifetime.

Breaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and focus on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple changes into that framework. It's set entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X and Y, abandoning the expansive journeys of previous titles. Pokémon are meant to live together alongside humans, trainers and civilians, in manners we've only glimpsed previously.

Far more drastic than that Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. This is where the series' almost ideal core cycle experiences its biggest transformation to date, replacing methodical turn-based bouts for something more chaotic. And it is immensely fun, even as I find myself ready for another traditional release. Though these changes to the traditional Pokémon formula seem like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

When first arriving at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your created character planned as a visitor are discarded; you're promptly recruited by Taunie (if playing as a male character; Urbain for female characters) to join her team of battlers. You receive a creature from them as your first partner and you're dispatched to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Royale is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" progression from earlier titles. However here, you battle a handful of trainers to gain the opportunity to compete in a promotion match. Win and you will be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of reaching the top rank.

Live-Action Combat: An Innovative Approach

Trainer battles occur at night, while navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is very entertaining. I'm always trying to get a jump on an opponent and unleash a free attack, because everything happens instantaneously. Moves operate on recharge periods, meaning both combatants may occasionally attack each other at the same time (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's a lot to adjust to initially. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I continue to feel that there is plenty to learn regarding using my Pokémon's moves in methods that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a significant part in battles as your Pokémon will follow you around or go to specific locations to execute moves (certain ones are distant, while others must be up close and personal).

The live combat makes battles progress so quickly that I often repeating sequences through moves in identical patterns, even when this amounts to a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on response after using an attack, and that data remains visible on screen in Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Occasionally, you can't even read it since taking your eyes off your adversary will spell certain doom.

Exploring Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's fairly compact, though densely packed. Deep into the game, I continue to find unseen stores and elevated areas to visit. It is also rich with character, and fully realizes the vision of creatures and humans coexisting. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, flying away as you approach similar to actual pigeons getting in my way while strolling in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

A focus on urban life is a new direction for Pokémon, and a positive change. Nonetheless, navigating the city becomes rote eventually. 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. While I never visited Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a city where every district are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that give them soul. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

In which Lumiose City really shines, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights in Sword & Shield occur in arena-like venues, giving them genuine significance and meaning. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen on a court with few spectators observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between both extremes. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching as they dine. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you will combat on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated headquarters of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and magenta walls. Various individual combat settings brim with character that's absent from the larger city as a whole.

The Familiarity of Repetition

Throughout the Championship, along with subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable sense that, {"I