When I play the originals, I think of the "humble beginnings" this series has had, and all of the good memories I had with Blue. While it is unquestionable that these games have aged, it doesn't matter to me. Sometimes I see the new games and get overwhelmed by the complexity.
Ask any random teenager off the street about Pokemon, and they'll talk about Red or Blue. When people think Pokemon, they still think Pikachu, Charmander, Squirtle (I have my own opinions on these people that I'd rather not share).
The point of my post is that we should cherish the classics, no matter how rough they look today. You can't form an opinion on a game that you haven't played. I think of the Zelda series where people still love Ocarina of Time, and Mario players who still love Super Mario 64. If you don't like it, then nothing is lost. At least you tried it.
If color is the issue, play Yellow or Gold, Silver and Crystal, or any of the more recent games.
I recommend you download the Gen 2 Graphic Patch so that the game doesn't look like a pile of junk