Pokémon Chronicles: Z-A - An Innovative Transformation Yet Staying True to Its Roots

I don't recall precisely when the custom started, but I consistently call every one of my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Whether it's a main series title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Malfunction switches between male and female characters, featuring dark and violet locks. Sometimes their style is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in the enduring series (and one of the more style-conscious releases). At other moments they're confined to the assorted academic attire styles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yet they remain Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokémon Games

Much like my characters, the Pokemon titles have transformed between installments, with certain superficial, others substantial. However at their core, they remain identical; they're always Pokemon through and through. Game Freak uncovered an almost flawless mechanics system some 30 years ago, and has only truly attempted to innovate on it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout all iteration, the fundamental gameplay loop of catching and fighting alongside adorable monsters has remained consistent for almost as long as I've been alive.

Shaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and focus on creating a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple changes into that formula. It's set completely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X & Y, ditching the expansive adventures of earlier titles. Pokémon are meant to coexist with humans, trainers and civilians, in manners we've only glimpsed before.

Far more radical than that Z-A's real-time battle system. It's here the series' near-perfect core cycle undergoes its biggest transformation to date, swapping methodical sequential fights with more frenetic action. And it is thoroughly enjoyable, even as I feel ready for another traditional release. Although these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe sound like they create an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as every other Pokémon title.

The Core of the Journey: The Z-A Championship

Upon initially reaching in Lumiose City, any intentions your created character planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're immediately recruited by Taunie (for male avatars; Urbain for female characters) to become part of their squad of battlers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your first partner and are sent to participate in the Z-A Championship.

The Royale is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the classic "gym badges to Elite Four" advancement from earlier titles. But here, you fight several opponents to gain the opportunity to participate in a promotion match. Succeed and you will be promoted to the next rank, with the final objective of achieving rank A.

Live-Action Battles: An Innovative Approach

Character fights take place at night, and sneaking around the designated combat areas is quite enjoyable. I'm constantly trying to surprise an opponent and unleash an unopposed move, since all actions occur instantaneously. Moves function with cooldown timers, indicating you and your opponent can sometimes strike simultaneously concurrently (and knock each other out simultaneously). It's a lot to adjust to at first. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel that there is much to master in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in methods that complement each other. Positioning also factors as a significant part in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to specific locations to perform attacks (some are long-range, whereas others need to be up close and personal).

The live combat causes fights go so fast that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, despite this results in a suboptimal strategy. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Pokémon battles rely on response post-move execution, and that information is still present on the display in Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it since taking your eyes off your adversary will spell immediate defeat.

Exploring 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 creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon populate its sidewalks, flying away as you approach similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The monkey trio joyfully cling from lampposts, and insect creatures such as Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

A focus on city living is a new direction for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, exploring Lumiose becomes rote eventually. You may stumble upon an alley you never visited, but it feels identical. The building design lacks character, and many elevated areas and sewer paths offer little variety. Although I never visited Paris, the model behind Lumiose, I reside in New York for almost ten years. It's a city where every district differs, and they're all alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis lacks that quality. It features beige structures topped with colored roofs and simply designed terraces.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

In which Lumiose City truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I loved how Pokémon battles in Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, giving them real weight and meaning. Conversely, fights within Scarlet & Violet take place on a court with two random people observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A finds a balance between the two. You'll battle in restaurants with diners observing while they eat. A fancy battle society will invite you to a competition, and you will combat on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated base of a certain faction with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Several distinct battle locales brim with character that's absent from the larger city as a whole.

The Comfort of Routine

Throughout the Royale, along with subduing wild powered-up creatures and completing the Pokédex, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I