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We're all different people, so we all have different ideas of what a "good" Pokémon game looks like. What are some of the things you look for in a Pokémon game? What is your "ideal" game?
Here's mine:
Here's mine:
1. Is a direct sequel to the previous generation. One thing I always loved about Gen 2 was how it was direct follow-up to the events of Gen 1, showing us how Kanto and its characters changed in the span of three years and establishing a sense of continuity. As someone who's always cared about stories, that was a pretty big deal for me. I loathed Gen 3 for severing the ties and starting the trend of every new Generation being a hard reboot with no connections to the previous one. While it makes the stories of the newer games easier for newbies to jump into, it has completely wrecked the series' continuity. Although Gen 5 did make baby steps back in the right direction with B2W2, Gen 6 pressed the reset button yet again, and that was that. I'm more than ready to see an entire Generation be a sequel again, just like Gen 2.
2. Has a postgame that's based around exploration, not competitive battling or contests. A battle facility or contest hall is *not* what I would consider an "acceptable" postgame. Not everyone wants to spend time breeding up a "competitive" team or making PokéBlocks/Poffins/whatever. Just like many of us would rather go for a hike than play a sport, many of us would rather explore new areas and discover new things than compete against others. Gen 2 probably had the best idea in including an entire second region with eight more badges, but a badgeless mini region like FRLG's Sevii Islands also works. Just anything that gives people without any interest in competition something to do after the Elite Four.
3. Doesn't remove any gameplay mechanics from previous Gens. Let's face it, I don't think hardly anyone liked Day/Night being removed from RSE. Or, FRLG not having a clock at all. Or, FRLG/HGSS arbitrarily excluding certain cross-generational pre/evolutions. Or, BW not having following Pokémon. Or, XY not having seasons. Or, ORAS not having character customization. Ideally, a new Generation should have everything the previous one had, plus more. (Yet again, GSC is the gold standard.)
4. No characters get left behind. All major NPCs should get a minimum of backstory/characterization, which, yes, includes Elite Four members. Everyone should get, at least, one appearance outside of their debut games (and no person should be favored for cameos over others), and the ones who can't get one need a clear and direct explanation why. No existing game has really succeeded in this, although FRLG (Fame Checker), GSC/HGSS, and B2W2 came close.
5. Uses new Pokémon to add onto previous Gens instead of replacing old ones. Why do we need Roggenrola when Geodude already exists? And, what is the purpose of Plusle/Minun, Pachirisu, Emolga, and Dedenne when Pikachu still fills the cute electric rodent role more than well-enough? And, why were there three Fire/Fighting starters in a row? There are still many species of animals who have yet to be turned into a Pokémon, as well as many type combos that either don't exist at all or don't exist outside of Legendaries/Mega Evolutions, so why waste those precious Dex slots on blatant copies of old Pokémon? New Pokémon should feel truly new and fill voids that haven't already been filled.
6. Gameplay is fun, not frustrating. I should be able to navigate a region without constantly checking the Town Map, and dungeons should be navigable without having your party saddled with two HM Slaves. And, simple things like fishing or riding a bike should not be a chore. And, I shouldn't have to load up on Repels just to get through 50% of the region. And, I should be able to catch a Pokémon and use it right away without having to worry about it having a "bad" nature or anything like that. And, just in case you think I'm beating up on RSE, I shouldn't have to constantly make space in my Bag every few steps or save whenever I change PC boxes, either.
7. The plot is realistic and small-scale. Yes, believe it or not, a story doesn't need to be some huge, epic "save the world" deal to be good or interesting. One reason Team Rocket still resonates with many is because they're the kinds of villains who exist in real life--a greedy, vile corporation. The likes of Magma, Aqua, and Galactic are so over-the-top and unrealistic that they're impossible to even take seriously. Sometimes, it's better to embrace the mundane.
8. Legendaries get side stories, not main ones. The mystery surrounding Legendary Pokémon was cheapened a bit when the games started having them directly involved in the main plot. They always worked best as side stories, like Suicune and Ho-Oh in Crystal.
2. Has a postgame that's based around exploration, not competitive battling or contests. A battle facility or contest hall is *not* what I would consider an "acceptable" postgame. Not everyone wants to spend time breeding up a "competitive" team or making PokéBlocks/Poffins/whatever. Just like many of us would rather go for a hike than play a sport, many of us would rather explore new areas and discover new things than compete against others. Gen 2 probably had the best idea in including an entire second region with eight more badges, but a badgeless mini region like FRLG's Sevii Islands also works. Just anything that gives people without any interest in competition something to do after the Elite Four.
3. Doesn't remove any gameplay mechanics from previous Gens. Let's face it, I don't think hardly anyone liked Day/Night being removed from RSE. Or, FRLG not having a clock at all. Or, FRLG/HGSS arbitrarily excluding certain cross-generational pre/evolutions. Or, BW not having following Pokémon. Or, XY not having seasons. Or, ORAS not having character customization. Ideally, a new Generation should have everything the previous one had, plus more. (Yet again, GSC is the gold standard.)
4. No characters get left behind. All major NPCs should get a minimum of backstory/characterization, which, yes, includes Elite Four members. Everyone should get, at least, one appearance outside of their debut games (and no person should be favored for cameos over others), and the ones who can't get one need a clear and direct explanation why. No existing game has really succeeded in this, although FRLG (Fame Checker), GSC/HGSS, and B2W2 came close.
5. Uses new Pokémon to add onto previous Gens instead of replacing old ones. Why do we need Roggenrola when Geodude already exists? And, what is the purpose of Plusle/Minun, Pachirisu, Emolga, and Dedenne when Pikachu still fills the cute electric rodent role more than well-enough? And, why were there three Fire/Fighting starters in a row? There are still many species of animals who have yet to be turned into a Pokémon, as well as many type combos that either don't exist at all or don't exist outside of Legendaries/Mega Evolutions, so why waste those precious Dex slots on blatant copies of old Pokémon? New Pokémon should feel truly new and fill voids that haven't already been filled.
6. Gameplay is fun, not frustrating. I should be able to navigate a region without constantly checking the Town Map, and dungeons should be navigable without having your party saddled with two HM Slaves. And, simple things like fishing or riding a bike should not be a chore. And, I shouldn't have to load up on Repels just to get through 50% of the region. And, I should be able to catch a Pokémon and use it right away without having to worry about it having a "bad" nature or anything like that. And, just in case you think I'm beating up on RSE, I shouldn't have to constantly make space in my Bag every few steps or save whenever I change PC boxes, either.
7. The plot is realistic and small-scale. Yes, believe it or not, a story doesn't need to be some huge, epic "save the world" deal to be good or interesting. One reason Team Rocket still resonates with many is because they're the kinds of villains who exist in real life--a greedy, vile corporation. The likes of Magma, Aqua, and Galactic are so over-the-top and unrealistic that they're impossible to even take seriously. Sometimes, it's better to embrace the mundane.
8. Legendaries get side stories, not main ones. The mystery surrounding Legendary Pokémon was cheapened a bit when the games started having them directly involved in the main plot. They always worked best as side stories, like Suicune and Ho-Oh in Crystal.
