Pokemon Chronicles: Z-A - A Fresh Evolution Yet Remaining True to Its Origins

I'm not sure precisely when the tradition began, however I consistently call every one of my Pokémon trainers Malfunction.

Be it a core franchise game or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX and Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction alternates from male to female characters, with dark and violet hair. Sometimes their fashion is flawless, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in this long-running series (and among the more style-conscious entries). Other times they're confined to the assorted academic attire styles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they remain Glitch.

The Constantly Changing World of Pokemon Titles

Much like my trainers, the Pokémon games have evolved across installments, some superficial, some significant. However at their core, they remain identical; they're consistently Pokémon to the core. Game Freak discovered an almost flawless mechanics system approximately three decades back, and just recently truly attempted to evolve upon it with games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character faces peril). Across every iteration, the core mechanics cycle of capturing and battling alongside charming creatures has remained consistent for nearly as long as my lifetime.

Breaking Conventions with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, featuring lack of arenas and emphasis on creating a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple deviations to that framework. It's set entirely in a single location, the French capital-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the region-spanning adventures of earlier games. Pokemon are meant to live together alongside people, trainers and non-trainers alike, in manners we've only glimpsed previously.

Even more drastic is Z-A's real-time battle system. It's here the series' near-perfect core cycle experiences its most significant transformation to date, replacing methodical sequential fights with more frenetic action. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, despite I feel ready for a new turn-based release. Although these changes to the traditional Pokemon recipe seem like they create an entirely fresh adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

When first arriving in Lumiose City, any intentions your custom avatar had as a tourist are discarded; you're immediately enlisted by the female guide (for male avatars; Urbain for female characters) to join their squad of battlers. You receive one of her Pokémon as your starter and you're dispatched into the Z-A Championship.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's similar to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" advancement of past games. But here, you fight several opponents to gain the chance to participate in an advancement bout. Win and you will be elevated to the next rank, with the ultimate goal of reaching the top rank.

Live-Action Battles: A New Frontier

Trainer battles occur during nighttime, and sneaking around the designated combat areas is quite entertaining. I'm constantly trying to get a jump on a rival and launch an unopposed move, since all actions occur in real time. Attacks function with recharge periods, indicating both combatants may occasionally attack each other concurrently (and defeat each other simultaneously). It's a lot to get used to initially. Even after playing for nearly thirty hours, I still feel like there's plenty to learn regarding employing my creatures' attacks in ways that complement each other. Placement also plays a significant part during combat as your Pokémon will trail behind you or move to designated spots to execute moves (certain ones are distant, while others need to be up close and personal).

The real-time action causes fights go so fast that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, despite this amounts to a less effective approach. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and numerous chances to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on feedback post-move execution, and that information is still present on screen in Z-A, but whips by quickly. Occasionally, you can't even read it because taking your eyes off your opponent will result in immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Away from combat, you will traverse Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, although densely packed. Deep into the game, I'm still discovering new shops and rooftops to visit. It is also full of charm, and perfectly captures the concept of creatures and humans living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away when you get near similar to actual pigeons obstructing my path when walking in New York City. The monkey trio joyfully cling from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna cling to trees.

A focus on urban life is a new direction for Pokémon, and a positive change. Even so, exploring Lumiose becomes rote eventually. You might discover an alley you haven't been to, but it feels identical. The building design lacks character, and most rooftops and underground routes offer little variety. While I haven't been to Paris, the model behind the city, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where no two blocks differs, and all are alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose Metropolis doesn't have that. It features tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

The Areas Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

Where the city really shines, oddly enough, is indoors. I adored the way creature fights within Sword & Shield take place in arena-like venues, providing them genuine significance and meaning. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet & Violet take place on a court with few spectators observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You'll battle in eateries with diners observing while they eat. A fancy battle society will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you will combat in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not Chandelure) suspended overhead. My favorite location is the beautifully designed headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Several distinct combat settings overflow with personality that's absent from the overall metropolis as a whole.

The Familiarity of Repetition

During the Championship, as well as quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I