Considering that Gen2 has a valid amount of complaints, the level curve, for me, can be corrected with grinding. Endless grinding. :irate-stare:
Anyways, onto the list; the lack of imagination as to the parties of half the Johto Gym Leaders, notably Faulkner, Morty and Chuck. We have had established newcomers of said types (even Misdreavus could have been used in Morty's party) yet, we don't get that much improvement from a Primeape/Poliwrath team, are we to assume GF couldn't have thrown in Hitmontop or Heracross? And, oh boy, a lv9 Pidgeotto! We haven't seen plenty of those in Gen1. GF could have given Faulkner a low-level Natu for balance. (Bugsy gets a pass for Scyther being both tough and cool, but a Heracross or a Yanma could have worked.)
Now, moving on to the female gym leaders, who I felt both a sense of awe and horror as I challenged them all those years ago w/ a Totodile line and an improperly-crafted team. Whitney's Miltank has Rollout and Whitney LOVES healing, nuff said. Moving on to Jasmine w/ 2 Magnemites w/ Thunderbolt, but those pale in comparison to her last line of defense, that accursed Steelix always compels me to train and prepare thoroughly before I consider challenging her. And Claire....wooboi...Underleveled and unprepared will get you quite a final trial. ('Final' meaning 'amongst Johto's Gyms') Also, love Kingdra, it was both a hideous tank to fight and a lovely addition to the Pokedex.
I think a lot of fellas would agree, but where's my Houndour? Oh, waitaminute, it's to the east of Celadon. So, wait, if I want to fight Pryce w/ a Houndoom, I'd have to trade? And Murkrow. And Misdreavus. And G/S players are out of luck, Sneasel's over at Mt Silver. Catching Houndour around Goldenrod would have been AWESOME!!
Funny, of all the points I've made, there's one thing that will CONTINUE to get a 'REEEE' from me, and that's the Goldenrod Basement. Y'know, those 'convenient' switches to help test your puzzle side? If that's not bad enough, the code to unlock the Smoke Ball is even tougher. For a low-level item I'd only use as money-fodder. *slow claps* Great job, GF.