Did Game Freak & Nintendo make a mistake with Gens 5&6?

[tyguy723]

Gen 5 is undeniably my favorite generation, which is an opinion that contrasts to almost everyone that I know. Wanting to help defend its case, I began to think of what made it stuck in a rut compared to gens 4 & 6.

In 2006/7 we got Diamond & Pearl...
2 years later ('08/'09) we got Platinum...
and 1 year after that ('09/'10) we got Heartgold & Soulsilver...

But what exactly compelled Game Freak to push forward with a third year in a row of releases?
The DS era was coming to a close by late 2010, with its successor the 3DS releasing globally in February/March 2011. I believe that the decision to push for another DS release was mistake for both Game Freak & Nintendo...

It is already well known that the 3DS' release seemed to be an utter flop with lack of catalog for its first year. (Though now it might be flourishing as one of the best selling consoles of recent years...) The first true Pokemon titles, X&Y, were not released until 2013, a point at which the 3DS finally had a catalog to build off of to herald its success.

My question is, should Gen 5 be the current generation?

I truly believe it was a mistake to release Black & White and Black 2 & White 2 on the DS. Game freak could have done Nintendo a favor by keeping HGSS released at the time it was and holding Black and White until only one year into the 3DS' lifespan, 2012, and release globally all at once. They already have prepared 3D models of all the unova pokemon by the launch for the intro sequence to the anime when it aired, meaning there must have been some type of plan to have Unova be 3D. By pushing Gen 5 to 2012, a two year break from HGSS and Pokemon in general would have been ample enough time to kill off any lingering demand for the DS and pushed people to move forward with the 3DS. Gen 6 would have probably benefitted too since the extra time Gen 5's delay would create would give way to more development time for the amount of Pokemon (which, in my honest opinion was and always will be severely lacking no matter what quality the 70 are...)

There simply is no denying that both Game Freak and Nintendo have found success in both Gens 5&6 regardless of release schedule, but could it have been better if what I said above happened?

 

[Boss1708]

A very interesting possibility.

However, you are forgetting something...

Black/White had been in production since 2009 or maybe 2008: too early to think about the 3DS.

Also, Gen V didn't need more time, as B2W2 was arguably the most complete Pokemon game ever made. So yeah, they had enough time. Had they been in a rush, they would have done a simple Grey version, instead of a paired continuation!

For gen VI, GF expanded their development team greatly (from 50 devs for BW, to nearly 60 at the time of BW2 and XY early development, to 81 for XY later development, and subsequently for the entire ORAS.

I'm sure they were in a rush for XY, cause it was their first 3D try. But for ORAS they had already settled, and were familiar with the new console, so they had enough time, and I suppose it's the same for the next game they make.

 

[tyguy723]

A very interesting possibility.

Black/White had been in production since 2009 or maybe 2008: too early to think about the 3DS.
Also, Gen V didn't need more time, as B2W2 was arguably the most complete Pokemon game ever made. So yeah, they had enough time.

I'm sure they were in a rush for XY, cause it was their first 3D try.

I can understand this then...I guess B2W2 probably wouldn't have been the most complete in the series had it been on the other system...that game is my all time favorite!

I'll just never get over how short the generation lasted for being the one with the most Pokemon introduced, which is why I'm coming up with theories to help save it hypothetically XD

 

[Boss1708]

I can understand this then...I guess B2W2 probably wouldn't have been the most complete in the series had it been on the other system...that game is my all time favorite!

I'll just never get over how short the generation lasted for being the one with the most Pokemon introduced, which is why I'm coming up with theories to help save it hypothetically XD

B2W2 was so content packed, because it was the final DS game, so it was some sort of a celebration... So yeah, if you are a B2W2 fan you have to be delighted it wasn't the first game on the new console. Just like I should be delighted that ORAS wasn't the first game on the new console. So it can be said, that XY did all the hard work and got kinda sandwiched between 2 games that benefited from this. Even so, I am sure XY wasn't a rushed game either.

I think in general, they know what they are doing and don't release a half assed release.

 

[Arceus the Dragon]

There was nothing wrong with BW and B2W2 being on the Nintendo DS system. I enjoyed having both gen 4 and 5 on the same platform. Gen 6 was perfect for the Nintendo 3DS and I'm glad that ORAS was put on the 3DS instead. Game Freak usually knows what they doing even though some games have some flaws. The important thing is that if you are a fan of pokemon games then it doesn't matter if the games are perfect or not.

 

[Boss1708]

There was nothing wrong with BW and B2W2 being on the Nintendo DS system. I enjoyed having both gen 4 and 5 on the same platform. Gen 6 was perfect for the Nintendo 3DS and I'm glad that ORAS was put on the 3DS instead. Game Freak usually knows what they doing even though some games have some flaws. The important thing is that if you are a fan of pokemon games then it doesn't matter if the games are perfect or not.

Exactly! You make a very good point. And to expand what you said:

1) Kalos and Hoenn are the 2 regions that would have benefited the most from being in 3D instead of DS visuals, so it is no coincidence GF waited to make them on 3DS. Kalos is the handsome region of fashion and aesthetics. Hoenn is the vast region of abundance and nature. Those 2 needed the 3DS graphics to express their full potential. Unova didn't need those graphics that much.

About GF, remember they never release the perfect game, because the want all the games to have something the others don't, so ultimately all Pokemon games are candidates to be the best. It is a very, very good philosophy.

 

[Icy Wind]

No. As long as the game's sales are good, it doesn't matter on what console the gen is released. We are not the game directors to know what's right and what's wrong with the game's releases.

 

[PaulTheProtist]

No. I actually am in the minority who prefer the graphics on the DS main series games anyway.

 

[The Outrage]

Releasing on the 3DS would have been a mistake. Game Freak barely made a good transition from Gen III to Gen IV, graphically. In terms of using the DS's features, the only thing DP could manage was touch screen menus (which weren't even refined until HgSs). The Poketch was a poor excuse for a device that somehow managed to emulate the DS's issue with shovelware by having around 20 apps, with only 5 of them being useful.

Its likely that Gen V was already being made for the DS by the time Game Freak got the dev kits for the 3DS. Had they decided to transition, I doubt we'd have the graphics we have today, unless they delayed a new game for another two years.

The DS was capable of more than what Game Freak provided us with Gen IV, and it was abundantly evident when Gen V came rolling around.

 

[Silktree]

Its likely that Gen V was already being made for the DS by the time Game Freak got the dev kits for the 3DS. Had they decided to transition, I doubt we'd have the graphics we have today, unless they delayed a new game for another two years.

They only got the development kit in early 2010. The games were nearing completion at that point.

 

[ocelotlrama jaguar]

I think they had the intention of doing something different with Generation V, but it feels like after the release of B2W2, they immediately wanted to get Generation VI to the public. It did feel like the shortest generation to date with what little time they spent with it. Even the spinoff games we got in Gen V were lackluster to say the least. It was also the first generation to not release any Stadium-like game in the series, which was unfortunate.

Then Generation VI came along. When they announced it, I have to admit that I was a little saddened that they didn't even try to salvage what was left of Generation V. They really wanted to get it out of the way. B2W2 was so lackluster that I thought they were going to release a Grey version to act as the third installment with more effort added into it.

The thing is, the more I think about it, this goes back to what I said about spinoff games. I'm not saying this is the definitive reason for rushing Gen V, but Gens I through IV had plenty of spinoff games to keep us entertained without having to rush over to the next generation. Generation IV had the 5 core games, Pokemon Battle Revolution (as bare bones as this game was, it was pretty cool playing online in a stadium game), PokePark Wii, My Pokemon Ranch, Pokemon Rumble, three Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games, the Pokemon Ranger games; those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Generation V, what did it have? 4 core games, Pokemon Rumble Blast, Pokedex 3D one Pokemon Mystery Dungeon game, Pokemon Conquest and PokePark 2. No stadium game, no ranger game, no remakes, and only one Mystery Dungeon game.

They could have honestly spent more time with Generation V, at least not making it as lackluster as they did. They should have made B2W2 better by adding a 5th game. I don't see why they had to rush to Gen VI so quickly. Right now I'm just speculating and speaking what I'm thinking, but yeah, it would have been nice to see Gen V last longer than it did. The only reason I can see them rushing is just to get the series onto the 3DS, but even now, I feel like Kalos has been more neglected than Unova! I don't even consider X and Y to be masterpieces, but wow, I already forgot about those games and the region because immediately after X and Y, they decided to release ORAS. Maybe they'll pull a Generation III and release a Pokemon Z?

Another theory besides spinoff games; I think Game Freak is juggling between fun gameplay and people who play competitively. The games don't play as well as they used to and their replay value is just not there. The stories of X and Y, as well as ORAS, felt second compared to preparing you for the "World Championships," as they loved to let you know at the end of ORAS. The post games are lacking, and they seem more concerned with releasing the next game so they can force you to use that version at the next Regionals or Nationals. I don't know if that's the direction these games are heading in, and as much as I love to attend tournaments, I also love to play these games for casual fun, too!

Anyways, those are just my thoughts. It does seem like they're rushing current generations and it's a trend that I hope stops. If not, at least give us some spinoff games for casual fun that would allow a generation to last longer than 5 seconds.

*Edited for multiple grammar errors.*

 

[Master Cyrus]

I don't know TC. Gen 4 has been getting the brunt of the internet hate lately.

 

[Alolan Slowpoke]

I think each game made it's own mistake, one that for me put a huge damper on each game respectively.

Gen V: Overurbanization and O-Powers
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The Unova region is one of the most urban regions in the entire series, consisting almost entirely of big cities, shining lights, and lots of high-end technology. Normally, I'd see this as an improvement, but for me, this took out a lot of the whimsy and mystique of playing a Pokemon game. The entirety of the game was, simply put, a large, paved road with some tall grass on the sides. Many areas of the game were very dull, lackluster, or oppositely too cluttered. Even the region itself is just a big circle. The entire region lacks imagination and wonder, and really makes it feel very unlike a Pokemon experience.

Another issue is O-Powers. They're essentially free powerups that boost exp gain, money gain, and chosen stats during battles. While this made certain things in the game broken, this feature was also included in Gen 6, which made the system even more broken, and I will elaborate why.

Gen VI: Streamlining
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The Pokemon series has always been laughably easy, and Gen 6 made it even more so with two inclusions: full-party exp share and super training (I could also mention Secret Bases in ORAS, which allow the player to grind level 100 Blisseys, using the O-Powers to make the exp gain far, far greater).

The full-party exp share ensured that none of your party Pokemon would every be weak, which was clearly meant to eliminate grinding. However, it is extremely common to be overleveled throughout the playthrough of a Pokemon game, and the full-party exp share will allow you to have an entire party of overleveled Pokemon.

Super Training allows the player to dramatically increase their Pokemon's stats, making them extremely powerful from the start of the game. While this is clearly a tool that was implemented to assist competitive teams, it is also very possible to make the main game drastically easier when using it.

These are the main mistakes I see in each generation, mistakes I hope they do not repeat in the future.

 

[Icy Wind]

I think they had the intention of doing something different with Generation V, but it feels like after the release of B2W2, they immediately wanted to get Generation VI to the public. It did feel like the shortest generation to date with what little time they spent with it. Even the spinoff games we got in Gen V were lackluster to say the least. It was also the first generation to not release any Stadium-like game in the series, which was unfortunate.

Then Generation VI came along. When they announced it, I have to admit that I was a little saddened that they didn't even try to salvage what was left of Generation V. They really wanted to get it out of the way. B2W2 was so lackluster that I thought they were going to release a Grey version to act as the third installment with more effort added into it.

The thing is, the more I think about it, this goes back to what I said about spinoff games. I'm not saying this is the definitive reason for rushing Gen V, but Gens I through IV had plenty of spinoff games to keep us entertained without having to rush over to the next generation. Generation IV had the 5 core games, Pokemon Battle Revolution (as bare bones as this game was, it was pretty cool playing online in a stadium game), PokePark Wii, My Pokemon Ranch, Pokemon Rumble, three Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games, the Pokemon Ranger games; those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Generation V, what did it have? 4 core games, Pokemon Rumble Blast, Pokedex 3D one Pokemon Mystery Dungeon game, Pokemon Conquest and PokePark 2. No stadium game, no ranger game, no remakes, and only one Mystery Dungeon game.

They could have honestly spent more time with Generation V, at least not making it as lackluster as they did. They should have made B2W2 better by adding a 5th game. I don't see why they had to rush to Gen VI so quickly. Right now I'm just speculating and speaking what I'm thinking, but yeah, it would have been nice to see Gen V last longer than it did. The only reason I can see them rushing is just to get the series onto the 3DS, but even now, I feel like Kalos has been more neglected than Unova! I don't even consider X and Y to be masterpieces, but wow, I already forgot about those games and the region because immediately after X and Y, they decided to release ORAS. Maybe they'll pull a Generation III and release a Pokemon Z?

Another theory besides spinoff games; I think Game Freak is juggling between fun gameplay and people who play competitively. The games don't play as well as they used to and their replay value is just not there. The stories of X and Y, as well as ORAS, felt second compared to preparing you for the "World Championships," as they loved to let you know at the end of ORAS. The post games are lacking, and they seem more concerned with releasing the next game so they can force you to use that version at the next Regionals or Nationals. I don't know if that's the direction these games are heading in, and as much as I love to attend tournaments, I also love to play these games for casual fun, too!

Anyways, those are just my thoughts. It does seem like they're rushing current generations and it's a trend that I hope stops. If not, at least give us some spinoff games for casual fun that would allow a generation to last longer than 5 seconds.

*Edited for multiple grammar errors.*

.... There are so many wrong and biased arguments in your post that i just dont even...

 

[BlackButterfree]

Gen. 5 stepped up the storytelling. Gen. 6 stepped up the aesthetics of the franchise. And XY's "Looker Chronicles" as well as ORAS's "Delta Episode" were met with almost universal praise for their story.

So I don't think either generation was a mistake. Remember, Gen. 6 was a transitionary generation. So the one we really need to watch is Gen. 7, which presumably will have both Unova's level of story and Kalos' level of beauty.

 

[Boss1708]

Gen. 5 stepped up the storytelling. Gen. 6 stepped up the aesthetics of the franchise. And XY's "Looker Chronicles" as well as ORAS's "Delta Episode" were met with almost universal praise for their story.

So I don't think either generation was a mistake. Remember, Gen. 6 was a transitionary generation. So the one we really need to watch is Gen. 7, which presumably will have both Unova's level of story and Kalos' level of beauty.

I agree with you on everything you said, except this:

I don't think gen VI is a transitionary generation. Not one generation should be called that, imo. Because Game Freak don't need a whole generation to get familiar with a new console. The transition occurs with the first game, and is then completed, imo.

If anything, XY were the transition game (from sprites, to 3D polygon), but that doesn't mean the rest of the Generation (ORAS and whatever game follows it) should be called transitionary.

Just like in gen IV, DP were a transitionary game (from GBA, to dual screens and 2.5D), but Platinum and HGSS shouldn't be called that. I mean, GF are very good game developers. I don't think they need an entire generation of games, to get used to a new console. I think one game is more than enough for them to practice and learn. Especially since they have a lot more employees now, than they used to have before XY. Of course, graphics always keep getting better, but that has been going on ever since gen I Red and Green.

 

[Bolt Strike]

I think each game made it's own mistake, one that for me put a huge damper on each game respectively.

Gen V: Overurbanization and O-Powers
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The Unova region is one of the most urban regions in the entire series, consisting almost entirely of big cities, shining lights, and lots of high-end technology. Normally, I'd see this as an improvement, but for me, this took out a lot of the whimsy and mystique of playing a Pokemon game. The entirety of the game was, simply put, a large, paved road with some tall grass on the sides. Many areas of the game were very dull, lackluster, or oppositely too cluttered. Even the region itself is just a big circle. The entire region lacks imagination and wonder, and really makes it feel very unlike a Pokemon experience.

Another issue is O-Powers. They're essentially free powerups that boost exp gain, money gain, and chosen stats during battles. While this made certain things in the game broken, this feature was also included in Gen 6, which made the system even more broken, and I will elaborate why.

Gen VI: Streamlining
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The Pokemon series has always been laughably easy, and Gen 6 made it even more so with two inclusions: full-party exp share and super training (I could also mention Secret Bases in ORAS, which allow the player to grind level 100 Blisseys, using the O-Powers to make the exp gain far, far greater).

The full-party exp share ensured that none of your party Pokemon would every be weak, which was clearly meant to eliminate grinding. However, it is extremely common to be overleveled throughout the playthrough of a Pokemon game, and the full-party exp share will allow you to have an entire party of overleveled Pokemon.

Super Training allows the player to dramatically increase their Pokemon's stats, making them extremely powerful from the start of the game. While this is clearly a tool that was implemented to assist competitive teams, it is also very possible to make the main game drastically easier when using it.

These are the main mistakes I see in each generation, mistakes I hope they do not repeat in the future.

The streamlining really started with 5th gen. That's when they started linearizing the region design, limiting the trainer rosters, decreasing the difficulty, and so on. XY just went even further in that direction.

 

[Alolan Slowpoke]

The streamlining really started with 5th gen. That's when they started linearizing the region design, limiting the trainer rosters, decreasing the difficulty, and so on. XY just went even further in that direction.

True. The entire Unova region was the most linear thing I've ever seen. It's definitely the most on-rails region, and probably the worst designed one.

 

[Icy Wind]

True. The entire Umova region was the most linear thing I've ever seen. It's definitely the most on-rails region, and probably the worst designed one.

Your're right, because kanto and johto definetly sparkle with creativity compared to it...

 

[Alolan Slowpoke]

Your're right, because kanto and johto definetly sparkle with creativity compared to it...

They had better overall map designs, not being giant hexagons. They also had far more interesting areas and lore, whereas the lore and history of Unova feels forced and out of place.