Yeah, unfortunately the Badges are way too tied into the story. Personally, I'm looking for a storyline where the Badges aren't first, I guess I could say. Like, for example, the player needs to use Surf to chase down a Legendary/something special, but doesn't have the HM. Player finds someone with the HM to Surf, but the person doesn't give away the HM to someone without the correct number of badges that prove the player can handle Surf. So then the player has to go back and get the badge so they can save the world.
And I totally just realize that that's like what there is now. But what I see as the difference is that the main focus of the plot isn't getting the Badge. The Badge plot is second to the other plot.
I know it's a lot more running around, but that's what I like doing in RPGs. I like the running around finding everything more than the actual plot.
Kanto in G/S/C/HG/SS still really relies on the Gym Leaders as the main attraction. The Battle Frontier really isn't much of a story, more like a new place to battle. The only one out of those listed that I played (never touched Platinum) was the Sevii Islands in FR/LG. They continued the pre-E4 storyline, with Team Rocket and even other side quests like the lost girl.
I just like actually story, I guess. Like I said, the Gym Leaders and their Badges are important, I'd just like to see some way, any way that they aren't the main focus.
