How Will These Games Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Pokemon?

Lunar

Lunar

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    Obviously Sun and Moon are being released this year (2016) which marks the 20th anniversary of the original Pokemon games being released on Japan. What features or Easter eggs do you guys want or expect to see to celebrate this milestone in the Pokemon franchise?
     
    I have a sneaking suspicion that, if character customisation doesn't make a reappearance, we may get to choose which protagonist we play as from across the years. The speculation of Red appearing in the screenshots, combined with what looks like another different trainer, makes me wonder. It'd be pretty cool if we could pick our favourite from across the franchise's history if we're not getting specific customisation!

    I would expect a lot of subtle references and hints to various moments in the franchise's history through NPC conversations, background scenery, and the like. The sort of thing people take to be hints for remakes, only for every generation. Remixes of battle themes is something that'll probably crop up as well; that's been a staple for major themes in past titles (Champion and Gym leader themes in the PWT being the most prominent example) but I'd expect it to be a little more varied than that...maybe, for example, playing the battle music of a specific generation for a Pokemon; like if you encountered a wild Taillow Hoenn's default battle theme played, and if you encountered a Pidove then Unova's battle theme would play. Cool little things like that.

    Cameos will probably abound, as well - depending upon internet connectivity features, maybe different trainers from across the ages would appear in the games at different times; like weekly events. One week you could battle Cynthia, and the next you could battle Lance. There was something like this with the PWT, and it'd be pretty cool if it appeared again for the 20th Anniversary.

    But as for something specific, something very 20th Anniversary? I'm not entirely sure...
     
    Intro To Moon/Sun
    Oak begins with the intro. He introduces you to the world of Pokemon. He then proceeds to ask you about you and your rival. You have no idea what's going on! Then you wake up... you walk downstairs to see your mother telling you to hurry up, and that you will be late. You don't know what's really going on until you reach your destination. A few buildings away from you is the revered Pokemon Lab of --- Region. You suddenly see what's happening. The famous Pokemon Professor from Kanto, Oak, is throwing a 20th Anniversary Party for when Professor --- started his/her profession of being a Pokemon Professor. ​

    I would kill for something like this.
     
    People already complained at too much pandering to G1 in X/Y, but you know, it's going to have to happen again here. Perhaps it would be more balanced and show the other generations... But wouldn't it be kind of cool to see a Kanto that takes place 20 years after the events of R/B/Y and FR/LG? Personally I think so (Although seeing Red/Leaf at approx. 30 years old... I don't know about that one. Lol). I'd really like to see a new region, and then an old one afterwards like in G/S/C and HG/SS, no matter which one it is, anyway.
     
    It is the 20th anniversary, so I'm sure there will be some connection with past games. In the direct it was said that it all comes together, whether that actually meant anything or not remains unknown. I'd like to go as far as to say we get to visit a Region from the past, but I just can't see how they could work it into the games unless they use a location that borders onto an existing Region?
     
    At the very least, Oak will make an appearance. If this region is based on Hawaii, perhaps he is on vacation. Maybe we'll even see him in one of those Hawaiian shirts he seems to wear all the time in the anime.
     
    If the concept art showing the Red-like trainer is any indication, we might be able to customize our PC to look like any of the past trainers. Hopefully, this includes Gold, Kris, and Green (both beta and FRLG), as well as the earlier designs of Red, May, and Brendan.

    Another PWT-like thing would be nice, too, although it NEEDS to include E4 members this time around. They're just as important as Gym Leaders and Champions, and GF needs to start respecting them as the powerful, high-ranking trainers they're supposed to be.

    I also wouldn't mind returning to some of the story/lore conventions of RBY/GSC. Like, why can't the mascots be starters instead of legendaries? And, do we really need to have a big "save the world" plot in every game?

    I'd also like to see a surprise Champion similar to Blue instead of recycling the "older mentor figure who helps you against Evil Team" formula they've been doing since GSC, as well as a rival who's mean/competitive like Blue and Silver instead of friendly like all the ones we've had since RSE.

    And, even though it probably doesn't have a chance in hell of happening, returning to Kalos as the postgame would not only be the ultimate nod to GSC's postgame, but it would also give much-needed closure to XY.

    While the games should still be more fleshed-out than RBY/GSC were, they should also try to break from the same basic plot structure and conventions the games have been using since RSE. That way, they could give a nod to the earlier gens while still keeping things fresh and carving out a unique identity for the new region.
     
    Harmonie said:
    People already complained at too much pandering to G1 in X/Y, but you know, it's going to have to happen again here. Perhaps it would be more balanced and show the other generations... But wouldn't it be kind of cool to see a Kanto that takes place 20 years after the events of R/B/Y and FR/LG? Personally I think so (Although seeing Red/Leaf at approx. 30 years old... I don't know about that one. Lol). I'd really like to see a new region, and then an old one afterwards like in G/S/C and HG/SS, no matter which one it is, anyway.
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    I once played a ROM hack where the protagonist is Red's child while the rival is Blue/Green's son. I can imagine something like that in Sun/Moon and it would be a good way to connect the original gen to the current one.
     
    My bet is it will combine things that made each game liked throughout the years.

    two regions in one game

    Battle frontier

    tougher difficulty for those who want it

    Solve any open plot lines

    Lots of references to other parts of the franchise

    Expanded pokedex.

    and much more.

    They will probably do quite a lot.
     
    They'll include long-lost features from older games that we've wanted back for years. At least, that's how I hope they'll show appreciation towards all 20 years of the franchise (and not just gen 1, which was already overly-referenced in X & Y).

    Gen 1 - Ummm the Special Stat (lol jk)
    Gen 2 - Access to two regions / Pokémon following you, PokéaAthlon
    Gen 3 - Some sort of Battle Frontier
    Gen 4 - [region] Underground + Bases, some sort of Battle Frontier (oops it seems I repeated myself), Contests (I like gen 4's Contest system better, sorry!)
    Gen 5 - Seasons, PokéStar Studios, difficulty selection, an actual story with actual characters, PWT, lots of meaningful version differences
    Gen 6 - Character customization, DexNav

    In addition to these features, some cute little extra details could go a long way, too (gen 2's non-mascot legendary taking importance in the plot; gen 4's Day/Night music differences; gen 5's Gym music differences).
     
    I think everyone's points are interesting, but some miight be too wishful on our behalf. I know the creators are awesome but I mean the majority of the fanbase was expecting Z and boom. SM.

    @Meloetta That's actually an incredibly awesome idea. Playing as an older character would be super cool however I think they'd rather go with set-in-stone customisation. Roughly there's... if we go with two a generation that's at least 12 characters, add on two different ones for Unova, and one in Crystal that brings us to 15 different characters to choose from. So from the first screen we'd have to choose from 15 characters. I think that might be a little too much compared to being able to freely choose/alter stuff in-game.

    @MarioManH That'd be awesome. :)

    @BettyNewbie What's Pokemon without saving the world????

    @Rivvon Pokemon following you will most likely make an appearance I think. People loved it, it was used in one of the most known games ever, and it's 20 years. Why not? As for everything else I don't really have that many opinions on the rest of those, except characters and story. Yes.
     
    Forever said:
    @Meloetta That's actually an incredibly awesome idea. Playing as an older character would be super cool however I think they'd rather go with set-in-stone customisation. Roughly there's... if we go with two a generation that's at least 12 characters, add on two different ones for Unova, and one in Crystal that brings us to 15 different characters to choose from. So from the first screen we'd have to choose from 15 characters. I think that might be a little too much compared to being able to freely choose/alter stuff in-game.
    Click to expand...
    True, although all things considered I don't think that's a huge thing to ask for; lots of games have character customisation far more complex and detailed than picking between two or three models that are practically identical save for a couple of very small aesthetic differences. Even if they DID include every character from past games as a playable avatar, it wouldn't be particularly standout in the grand scheme of things...if anything it'd still be restrictive, since you wouldn't be able to change height, skin tone, hair style and colour, etc etc. These are all standard features for games that give you a self-insert protagonist...except for Pokemon, anyway.

    I think they're far more likely to opt for the clothing customisation route as well if they're going to do anything with it though, as it was a pretty popular feature in the Kalos games and it's a much easier way to give players freedom of choice...and it allows for greater flexibility too, as you'd be able to change costumes at will, plus there are all the other potential costumes they could stack on top of that...dressing up as an Elite Four/Champion character, for example, or even characters from other franchise...you just KNOW they'd have Link and Zelda, Mario and Zelda, Splatoon, Fire Emblem and Metroid costumes. Maybe it's not as much of an homage to earlier titles, but it IS a nice little nod and a cool feature nonetheless. We can dream, I suppose. xD

    ...just as long as we don't have to play the games using Miis. If that ever happens I'm swearing off the franchise.
     
    I think it'd just be cool to have past protagonists as NPC's scattered throughout the game.

    It's hard to say, though I'm sure they will do something awesome!
     
    Rivvon said:
    T
    Gen 2 - Access to two regions / Pokémon following you, PokéaAthlon
    Click to expand...

    I think that with (hopefully) a brand new engine for these games the ability for Pokemon to follow you again could be a reality, it seems like they've been trying to bring it back for a while (in Gen 5 to be precise) but it's never happened. And EVERYONE would love the ability to access another region, preferably an older one :3
     
    Meloetta said:
    True, although all things considered I don't think that's a huge thing to ask for; lots of games have character customisation far more complex and detailed than picking between two or three models that are practically identical save for a couple of very small aesthetic differences. Even if they DID include every character from past games as a playable avatar, it wouldn't be particularly standout in the grand scheme of things...if anything it'd still be restrictive, since you wouldn't be able to change height, skin tone, hair style and colour, etc etc. These are all standard features for games that give you a self-insert protagonist...except for Pokemon, anyway.

    I think they're far more likely to opt for the clothing customisation route as well if they're going to do anything with it though, as it was a pretty popular feature in the Kalos games and it's a much easier way to give players freedom of choice...and it allows for greater flexibility too, as you'd be able to change costumes at will, plus there are all the other potential costumes they could stack on top of that...dressing up as an Elite Four/Champion character, for example, or even characters from other franchise...you just KNOW they'd have Link and Zelda, Mario and Zelda, Splatoon, Fire Emblem and Metroid costumes. Maybe it's not as much of an homage to earlier titles, but it IS a nice little nod and a cool feature nonetheless. We can dream, I suppose. xD

    ...just as long as we don't have to play the games using Miis. If that ever happens I'm swearing off the franchise.
    Click to expand...

    I suppose, I just know a lot of people are going to have difficulty deciding initially if that's the case and I have a feeling GF will want them to get riiiiight into the games lol. I actually like what a user suggested a few posts after yours, of previous protagonists as NPCs, scattered all over the region. I think that would be awesome, and a lot more likely. I mean, I think Red and Blue will probably be involved somehow. That might be all though, as a lot of our other protagonists weren't that... memorable to most people.

    Although in regards to the 20th anniversary... nothing really special happened for the 10th anniversary if I recall correctly, so I don't know how much they're willing to acknowledge it in the games. Somehow thinking about it more I have a feeling that it'll be something small and sweet.

    I actually think they'll head that way one day, and that's pretty unfortunate. I never liked Mii's, but I do fear that it will be happening sometime in the future. Funny thing is people will still play, Pokemon has the perfect formula. You could be a headless dog as the main character and as long as everything else stays the same people will probably play as normal, as long as they get to return to a previous region or discover a new one.
     
    They can have some of our favorite characters come back for sidequests. Have Blain show up and ask the player to help get Mewtwo back under control, N running a Pokemon shelter, and/or a champions castle where you can battle the best of the best from around the world.
     
    One possibility is that instead of being able to revisit old regions, they'll bring back features that are iconic of the previous six generations.

    As an example they might bring back the Bug Catching Contest and Apricorns from the second generation. Something like that.

    My only fear in that case would be that the 7th generation would become some kind of "Greatest Hits" generation instead of having a strong identity of it's own.
     
    Sabrewulf238 said:
    My only fear in that case would be that the 7th generation would become some kind of "Greatest Hits" generation instead of having a strong identity of it's own.
    Click to expand...
    I'd be inclined to agree with this; I think there is an inherent danger in that if they go overboard with the homages to each generation prior...after all, there is a LOT of content. That said, this is what third titles and sequels are for. If Sun and Moon are seventh generation titles, I'd expect them to be pioneers, and not representative of the generation as a whole, so if they were more 20th Anniversary titles rather than fresh, wholly original instalments in a brand new gen, I don't think it'd be cause for alarm...unless we didn't get any follow-up again, as would be the case with XY if Sun and Moon weren't connected to them in some way.
     
    Rivvon said:
    They'll include long-lost features from older games that we've wanted back for years. At least, that's how I hope they'll show appreciation towards all 20 years of the franchise (and not just gen 1, which was already overly-referenced in X & Y).

    Gen 1 - Ummm the Special Stat (lol jk)
    Gen 2 - Access to two regions / Pokémon following you, PokéaAthlon
    Gen 3 - Some sort of Battle Frontier
    Gen 4 - [region] Underground + Bases, some sort of Battle Frontier (oops it seems I repeated myself), Contests (I like gen 4's Contest system better, sorry!)
    Gen 5 - Seasons, PokéStar Studios, difficulty selection, an actual story with actual characters, PWT, lots of meaningful version differences
    Gen 6 - Character customization, DexNav

    In addition to these features, some cute little extra details could go a long way, too (gen 2's non-mascot legendary taking importance in the plot; gen 4's Day/Night music differences; gen 5's Gym music differences).
    Click to expand...

    That's an awesome idea, I'd really like to see the best/well-received feature of each region being implemented into S/M. To add on to Gen 4, how about a revisit to the Distortion World? Maybe even Cyrus has captured Giratina and you get to battle him for the lulz?

    I think that the new region will have some sort of connection to all past regions, like a melting pot of sorts. I'm not just talking about little NPC references like "hey I came from *blank* Town from the *blank* Region!". I talking about cultural and plot elements from past games
     
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