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

I'm not sure precisely when the custom started, however I consistently call all my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Be it a main series title or a spinoff such as Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the name always stays the same. Malfunction alternates between male and female characters, with dark and violet hair. Occasionally their fashion is impeccable, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest installment in this long-running series (and among the most fashion-focused entries). At other moments they're confined to the various academic attire styles from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they remain Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Games

Much like my trainers, the Pokémon games have evolved across installments, some superficial, some significant. But at their core, they remain the same; they're always Pokemon through and through. The developers uncovered a nearly perfect mechanics system approximately 30 years ago, and just recently seriously tried to innovate on it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (new era, your avatar faces peril). Throughout all iteration, the core gameplay loop of capturing and fighting with adorable monsters has remained consistent for nearly the same duration as I've been alive.

Shaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus before it, featuring absence of gyms and emphasis on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings several changes into that formula. It takes place completely in one place, the French capital-inspired Lumiose Metropolis from Pokémon X & Y, ditching the expansive adventures of earlier games. Pokemon are meant to coexist with humans, battlers and civilians, in manners we have merely glimpsed previously.

Even more drastic than that Z-A's live-action battle system. This is where the franchise's near-perfect core cycle experiences its biggest evolution yet, swapping methodical sequential bouts with something more chaotic. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, despite I find myself ready for another traditional entry. Although these alterations to the traditional Pokemon recipe seem like they form an entirely fresh experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is as familiar as any other Pokemon game.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

When first arriving in Lumiose City, whatever plans your created character planned as a visitor get abandoned; you're immediately enlisted by Taunie (if playing as a male character; the male guide if female) to become part of her team of trainers. You receive a creature from them as your starter and are sent into the Z-A Championship.

The Royale is the epicenter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" progression of past games. But here, you fight several opponents to earn the chance to compete in a promotion match. Win and you will be elevated to the next rank, with the final objective of achieving rank A.

Real-Time Combat: A New Frontier

Character fights occur at night, and sneaking around the designated battle zones is very entertaining. I'm constantly attempting to get a jump on a rival and launch an unopposed move, since everything happens in real time. Attacks operate on cooldown timers, indicating both combatants can sometimes attack each other concurrently (and defeat each other at once). It's a lot to adjust to initially. Even after gaming for almost 30 hours, I still feel like there's much to master regarding using my Pokémon's moves in methods that work together synergistically. Placement also factors as a major role in battles as your Pokémon will trail behind you or go to designated spots 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 find myself repeating sequences of attacks in the same order, despite this amounts to a less effective approach. There's no time to breathe during Z-A, and numerous chances to become swamped. Pokémon battles rely on feedback after using an attack, and that data remains visible on the display within Z-A, but whips by rapidly. Sometimes, you cannot process it since diverting attention from your adversary will spell immediate defeat.

Navigating Lumiose City

Outside of battle, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's relatively small, though tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I continue to find new shops and elevated areas to visit. It is also rich with character, and fully realizes the concept of Pokémon and people coexisting. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, taking flight when you get near like the real-life pigeons obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna cling on branches.

A focus on city living is a new direction for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, navigating the city grows repetitive eventually. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The architecture is devoid of personality, and most rooftops and underground routes offer little variety. Although I never visited the French capital, the model behind Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for almost ten years. It's a metropolis where every district are the same, and they're all vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It features beige structures with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered terraces.

Where Lumiose City Really Excels

Where the city truly stands out, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored how Pokémon battles in Sword & Shield occur in football-like stadiums, providing them genuine significance and meaning. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet and Violet happen in a field with two random people observing. It's a total letdown. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You will fight in eateries with patrons watching as they dine. A fancy battle society will invite you to a tournament, and you will combat in its rooftop arena with a chandelier (not the Pokemon) hanging above. The most memorable spot is the beautifully designed headquarters of a certain faction with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Various individual combat settings overflow with personality missing in the overall metropolis in general.

The Familiarity of Repetition

During the Championship, along with subduing wild powered-up creatures and filling the creature index, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I