I found the early game to be pretty difficult compared to the other games. The level pacing is pretty good throughout the game, especially in Castelia. I remember going down in the sewers with Hugh and my Pokemon were barely level 20 while his Servine was, so I felt a bit weak there. Castelia, overall, sucked for me in terms of difficulty because Burgh's Leavanny had two levels on my Dewott my first play through, so it got tough. But after that, it wasn't too difficult, meaning that my Pokemon only occasionally fainted.
I think it was around Skyla that I became severely overleveled, but I blame Juniper because she gave me the Lucky Egg and gave me a good enough excuse to grind it out in Nimbasa, and the Join Avenue with the training dojo got me to be a nice rounded level 70 team at the Elite Four.
I think it was around Skyla that I became severely overleveled, but I blame Juniper because she gave me the Lucky Egg and gave me a good enough excuse to grind it out in Nimbasa, and the Join Avenue with the training dojo got me to be a nice rounded level 70 team at the Elite Four.