Pokémon Legends: Z-A - A Fresh Transformation While Remaining True to Its Origins

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

Be it a main series title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Glitch alternates between male and female characters, with black and purple locks. Occasionally their style is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in this enduring series (and among the most style-conscious entries). Other times they're confined to the assorted academic attire designs of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they're always Glitch.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Games

Similar to my trainers, the Pokemon titles have evolved across installments, some cosmetic, some substantial. But at their core, they remain identical; they're always Pokemon to the core. The developers discovered an almost flawless gameplay formula approximately 30 years ago, and just recently truly attempted to evolve upon it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout all version, the fundamental mechanics cycle of capturing and battling with charming creatures has stayed consistent for almost as long as I've been alive.

Shaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus before it, featuring absence of gyms and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces multiple deviations into that formula. It's set entirely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning adventures of earlier games. Pokémon are intended to coexist alongside people, trainers and civilians, in manners we've only seen glimpses of before.

Far more drastic than that Z-A's live-action combat mechanics. It's here the franchise's near-perfect core cycle experiences its biggest evolution yet, swapping deliberate sequential bouts with more frenetic action. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, even as I feel ready for another traditional entry. Although these alterations to the traditional Pokemon recipe sound like they form a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Adventure: The Z-A Championship

When initially reaching at Lumiose Metropolis, whatever plans your custom avatar planned as a visitor are discarded; you're promptly enlisted by the female guide (for male avatars; the male guide for female characters) to become part of their squad of battlers. You receive one of her Pokémon 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" advancement of past games. But here, you battle a handful of opponents to earn the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you'll be elevated to a higher tier, with the final objective of reaching rank A.

Real-Time Battles: An Innovative Approach

Character fights take place during nighttime, while navigating stealthily the designated combat areas is very enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to get a jump on a rival and launch a free attack, because all actions occur instantaneously. Attacks function with cooldown timers, 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 thirty hours, I still feel like there's plenty to learn regarding employing my creatures' attacks in ways that work together synergistically. Placement also factors as a major role in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or move to specific locations to execute moves (certain ones are distant, while others need to be in close proximity).

The real-time action makes battles progress so quickly that I often repeating sequences of attacks in identical patterns, even when this results in a less effective approach. There's no time to pause during Z-A, and plenty of opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles depend on feedback after using an attack, and that information is still present on screen within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it because diverting attention from your opponent will spell certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose City

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose City. It's relatively small, although densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering unseen stores and elevated areas to visit. It's also rich with character, and fully realizes the concept of creatures and humans coexisting. Pidgey inhabit its pathways, taking flight as you approach like the real-life city birds getting in my way while strolling through NYC. The monkey trio gleefully hang on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna attach themselves on branches.

A focus on city living is a new direction for Pokémon, and a positive change. Nonetheless, navigating the city becomes rote over time. You may stumble upon a passage you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture lacks character, and most rooftops and sewer paths offer little variety. 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 differs, and they're all alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It features tan buildings with blue or red roofs and simply designed balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

Where Lumiose City truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I loved how Pokémon battles in Sword and Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them genuine significance and importance. Conversely, battles in Scarlet and Violet take place in a field with two random people observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching as they dine. An elite combat club will invite you to a tournament, and you will combat on its penthouse court under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of a certain faction with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Several distinct combat settings brim with character missing in the larger city in general.

The Familiarity of Repetition

During the Royale, along with quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable feeling of, {"I