Pokémon Legends: Z-A - An Innovative Transformation Yet Staying Faithful to Its Origins

I don't recall precisely when the tradition began, however I consistently call all my Pokémon trainers Glitch.

Whether it's a main series game or a side project like Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the name never changes. Glitch alternates from male to female avatars, with dark and violet hair. Sometimes their fashion is impeccable, like in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest addition in the enduring franchise (and one of the more fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're limited to the various school uniform styles from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But they're always Malfunction.

The Constantly Changing Realm of Pokemon Games

Much like my characters, the Pokemon titles have transformed across installments, some superficial, some significant. However at their heart, they remain the same; they're consistently Pokemon to the core. Game Freak discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system approximately three decades back, and has only truly attempted to innovate on it with entries such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your character faces peril). Across all version, the fundamental gameplay loop of capturing and battling alongside charming creatures has stayed steady for almost the same duration as I've been alive.

Shaking the Mold in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Like Arceus previously, with its lack of arenas and focus on compiling a creature catalog, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple changes to that framework. It takes place entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose Metropolis of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the expansive adventures of earlier games. Pokemon are intended to coexist alongside humans, battlers and non-trainers alike, in manners we've only glimpsed before.

Even more radical than that Z-A's real-time battle system. This is where the series' near-perfect gameplay loop experiences its most significant transformation yet, replacing deliberate turn-based bouts with something more chaotic. And it's thoroughly enjoyable, even as I find myself eager for another traditional release. Though these changes to the classic Pokemon recipe sound like they create a completely new experience, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as any other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Adventure: The Z-A Royale

When initially reaching in Lumiose City, whatever plans your created character planned as a visitor are discarded; you're immediately enlisted by Taunie (for male avatars; Urbain if female) to become part of her team of battlers. You're gifted a creature from them as your first partner and you're dispatched into the Z-A Royale.

The Royale serves as the centerpiece in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the traditional "gym badges to Elite Four" progression of past games. However here, you fight 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 ultimate goal of reaching rank A.

Live-Action Battles: A New Approach

Trainer battles occur at night, while sneaking around the assigned combat areas is very entertaining. I'm constantly attempting to surprise an opponent and launch a free attack, because everything happens in real time. Attacks operate on cooldown timers, indicating both combatants may occasionally strike simultaneously 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 like there's much to master in terms of employing my creatures' attacks in ways that complement each other. Placement also factors as a major role during combat since your creatures will follow you around or move to designated spots to execute moves (certain ones are distant, whereas others must be up close and personal).

The real-time action makes battles progress so quickly that I find myself sometimes cycling of attacks in identical patterns, despite this results in a less effective approach. There isn't moment to breathe during Z-A, and numerous opportunities to become swamped. Pokémon battles depend on response after using an attack, and that information is still present on screen within Z-A, but flashes past quickly. Occasionally, you cannot process it because taking your eyes off your opponent will spell immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose City

Away from combat, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, although tightly filled. Far into the adventure, I'm still discovering new shops and elevated areas to visit. It's also full of charm, and fully realizes the vision of Pokémon and people living together. Pidgey populate its sidewalks, flying away as you approach like the real-life city birds obstructing my path while strolling through NYC. The monkey trio joyfully cling on streetlights, and bug-Pokémon such as Kakuna attach themselves to trees.

An emphasis on city living represents a fresh approach for the franchise, and a positive change. Even so, exploring Lumiose becomes rote over time. 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 provide minimal diversity. While I never visited the French capital, the model behind the city, I reside in New York for nearly a decade. It's a metropolis where every district are the same, and all are vibrant with differences that provide character. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It features tan buildings with blue or red roofs and flatly rendered balconies.

Where The Metropolis Truly Shines

Where Lumiose City really shines, surprisingly, is indoors. I loved the way creature fights in Sword & Shield take place in football-like stadiums, providing them real weight and meaning. On the flipside, battles in Scarlet & Violet take place in a field with few spectators observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between both extremes. You will fight in restaurants with diners observing as they dine. An elite combat club will extend an invitation to a tournament, and you will combat on its penthouse court with a chandelier (not Chandelure) hanging above. My favorite location is the elegantly decorated headquarters of the Rust Syndicate with its moody lighting and purple partitions. Several distinct battle locales overflow with personality that's absent from the overall metropolis in general.

The Comfort of Repetition

Throughout the Royale, as well as quelling rogue Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the creature index, there is an unavoidable sense that, {"I