Pokemon Chronicles: Z-A - An Innovative Transformation While Remaining True to Its Roots

I don't recall exactly how the tradition began, but I always name all my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Whether it's a core franchise game or a spinoff like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction alternates between male and female avatars, with dark and violet locks. Sometimes their style is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in this enduring franchise (and one of the most fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're limited to the various school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving Realm of Pokemon Games

Similar to my trainers, the Pokémon games have evolved between releases, some cosmetic, others significant. However at their heart, they stay identical; they're always Pokémon through and through. Game Freak uncovered a nearly perfect gameplay formula some three decades back, and just recently seriously tried to evolve on it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your character faces peril). Throughout every version, the fundamental mechanics cycle of catching and fighting with adorable monsters has stayed steady for nearly the same duration as my lifetime.

Shaking the Mold with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces several changes to that framework. It takes place entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, abandoning the expansive journeys of earlier titles. Pokémon are intended to coexist alongside humans, battlers and civilians, in manners we have merely seen glimpses of previously.

Even more drastic is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. It's here the series' near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its most significant evolution to date, replacing deliberate sequential fights for something more chaotic. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, even as I find myself eager for another traditional release. Although these alterations to the classic Pokemon recipe seem like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

When initially reaching in Lumiose City, whatever plans your created character had as a tourist are discarded; you're promptly recruited by Taunie (if playing as a male character; Urbain if female) to become part of their squad of trainers. You're gifted a creature from them as your starter and are sent to participate in the Z-A Royale.

The Royale is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement of past games. However here, you fight a handful of trainers to earn the opportunity to compete in a promotion match. Win and you will be promoted to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of achieving rank A.

Live-Action Battles: An Innovative Frontier

Character fights occur during nighttime, while sneaking around the designated battle zones is quite enjoyable. I'm always trying to get a jump on an opponent and unleash a free attack, since all actions occur in real time. Attacks function with recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent can sometimes attack each other concurrently (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's a lot to get used to at first. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I continue to feel that there is much to master in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in ways that complement each other. Placement also factors as a significant part during combat since your creatures will follow you around or go to specific locations to execute moves (some are long-range, whereas others need to be up close and personal).

The real-time action causes fights progress so quickly that I often sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and plenty of chances to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles rely on response post-move execution, and that data is still present on screen within Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Occasionally, you cannot process it because diverting attention from your opponent will result in certain doom.

Navigating Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose City. It's relatively small, though tightly filled. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering unseen stores and elevated areas to visit. It is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the concept of Pokémon and people living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near similar to actual city birds obstructing my path while strolling through NYC. The monkey trio gleefully hang from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna cling to trees.

A focus on city living is a new direction for the franchise, and a welcome one. Nonetheless, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive eventually. You may stumble upon a passage you never visited, but it feels identical. The building design is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and underground routes provide minimal diversity. While I haven't been to Paris, the inspiration for Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where every district differs, and they're all alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It features tan buildings topped with colored roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

In which the city really shines, oddly enough, is indoors. I loved how Pokémon battles in Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them real weight and importance. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet & Violet happen in a field with few spectators watching. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You will fight in eateries with diners observing while they eat. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you'll battle in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated base of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and magenta walls. Several distinct battle locales brim with character that's absent from the larger city as a whole.

The Familiarity of Routine

During the Royale, along with quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the creature index, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I