There need to be some low-power moves for the early game. I find Mud-Slap useful as a damaging Sand-Attack, especially on a Ground-type like Geodude or Dunsparce. And if the Johto gyms are already easy, you don't need a 90 power TM after the second one.
Magby and Elekid are baby Pokémon, but their BSTs are between a starter's first and second forms. What levels were your Pokémon on when you fought the first four gyms? Mine were generally one level below the leader's ace, and Bugsy could 2HKO most of my Pokémon.
And yes, the next update will break old saves.
I suppose so. But again, they seem like tedious moves, that you're never gonna use. I'd rather Zubat had tackle or astonish, till it got supersonic. (That being said, Supersonic and Confuse Ray are pretty redundant, since you're sort of hard-pressed for moves) Same as keeping bubble or flame spin in the game. Water Gun and Bubble have what, a 10 power difference?
I just feel like there's more interesting moves that could take the slot in the memory.
Also, I was a bit overleveled after the third gym, but Bugsy and Whitney both got ruined by my Sandshrew / Slash (Who, by the way, did you buff the stats off? My slash's stats seemed waaay too freaking high. His movepool was also crazy good.)
I didn't grind anything till I was past ecruteak, and I defeated Morty with my highest Pokemon being Magby, at 27.
I think adjusting a couple of trainers levels, just giving them a couple more levels would make the game more difficult, but not putting up a grind wall - like in Kanto. I beat the league with one dude above level 50, and then proceeded to almost get bodied by the first gym in Kanto.
But in conclusion, my thoughts on the game so far (being about to face Blue) are mostly positive, Kanto needs fine tuning, like I mentioned. Perhaps increasing the average trainer level, and the gym trainer level might do the trick, as well as some "Kanto"-Leveled E4, that then changes to a "Pre-Red" Elite 4. I couldn't find the lucky egg, so I'm not sure if that alters the game completely, but it might.
Johto didn't seem all that difficult, or different in general. I feel like the majority of encounters I found were just vanilla Crystal ones. I'd like it if you could look over the TM's and Levelup movesets to have more longevity post level 20, especially since almost half of the game will take place level 60+. Also, I am not entirely sure what the point of everyone wanting a silver leaf to teach a Pokemon a move is, making it a tutor move makes sense, since then you can't just put it on every Pokemon you got, like other TM's. But the Silver Leaf trade-off just seems annoying and makes you rely on the thief-ability, which you won't get till Mahogany (It is Thief you get in Rocket Hideout, right?)
And the HM's could probably be readjusted. Making Strength a Rock Type move, perhaps, Flash a low-level (20 - 30 power) electric move, and buffing whirlpool by like, 10 power. I really do love the changes to cut and Rocksmash. Especially Rock Smash. That move saved my locke so many times.
Again, all in all, fantastic hack, I really like it, and I can't wait for the next update, but I figured I should toss in my two-cents on the game.
P.S Documentation about new spawn points and evolution-ways could be real neato.
Also, Leafeon's backsprite looks stupid. :D