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It's not all upward improvement! Sometimes a new generation brings along a new idea or interpretation that just doesn't quite work as well as the one it's trying to replace. I'm curious to see which "downgrades" stand out to everyone from each generational transition.
Just to be clear, this is not really a "big picture" sort of proposition, so I'm not really looking for things that "the series" as a broad entity might have handled better in older games than it does in newer ones. The exact nature of what it was that took a step back in each case can be anything - art style, gameplay, level design, you name it - but am specifically asking for opinions on Gen 1 in direct relation to Gen 2, Gen 2 in direct relation to Gen 3, and so on.
As for my choices:
Gen 1 > Gen 2
This one is pretty difficult, considering how bare-bones Gen 1 is in comparison to its successor. Gen 2 really did add a ton of improvements and additions to the game structure. But I suppose the first thing that comes to my mind is the storyline. I think the plot of RBY has always felt quintessential and timeless, with a clear goal and clear antagonists, while Gen 2 fumbles in trying to work like a sequel, and the story lacks a sense of momentum. To me, RBY feels like a quest, while GSC feels like a lark.
Gen 2 > Gen 3
Post-game content. I'm not saying they should have had us travel to Johto or anything, nor am I saying that GSC's post-game was flawless, but going from the amount of stuff there is to do after becoming the Champion in GSC to having basically just the Battle Tower and Contests is pretty jarring, and without having any online options to switch to, it makes Hoenn feel dead. Emerald's Battle Frontier does help to mitigate against this... provided you're willing to invest in it.
Gen 3 > Gen 4
Presentation of the new Pokémon. The Hoenn games are light-years better at showcasing the new species introduced in them than the Sinnoh games are. Obviously, Platinum makes efforts to make up for what DP failed to do, but Hoenn nailed it right off the bat, with so many new Pokémon faces to meet right from the beginning. Zigzagoon, Poochyena, Wurmple, Taillow, Wingull, Seedot/Lotad, Ralts, Slakoth, Shroomish, Nincada - you are likely to have seen all of those before the first Gym. It really makes a strong impression.
Gen 4 > Gen 5
Mythical Pokémon events. While I'm not the biggest fan of these in general, if they're going to exist, then I suppose I'd rather they have something interesting to say or have us do.
I also think there are a few miscellaneous features from Gen 4 that it would have been nice to see carried over. Nothing particularly big; I'm just thinking of things like following Pokémon (all those walking sprites still exist in the code of BW, and are used in the Entree Forest), Poké Ball seals, and a photography feature like the one in HGSS.
Gen 5 > Gen 6
There's actually a lot for me to choose from here, lol. For now, I think I'll just mention the music. While I do like XY's soundtrack (it produced some of my favorite themes in the series, after all), I missed the dynamic sounds that BW put to great use in so many parts of the game, as well as the personalised Gym themes from B2W2. In fairness, I can understand why the former probably had to happen, at least (I'm guessing differences in the DS and 3DS audio systems).
Gen 6 > Gen 7
But also, I think the post-game storylines were better in Gen 6. Questionable though its ethics may be, the Looker Bureau is a character-driven pulp detective saga that makes good use of Lumiose City's geography, while the UB round-up in SM relies way too much on copy-and-paste sequences and offers less character intrigue and development in favor of some neat, but ultimately pointless lore implications.
Furthermore, although I would say that Episode RR scores higher than the Delta Episode in terms of puzzles and boss battles, it's also a blatant mish-mash of fanservice with no semblance of logic holding it together, and while that's not necessarily a bad thing (especially in the context of the 20th anniversary), I think I just prefer the Delta Episode's approach of seriously trying to continue the story of the main game, rather than taking a sudden sharp turn to go to an unrelated nostalgia party. Also, that Deoxys reveal and subsequent battle in space is still awesome.
Gen 7 > Gen 8
Boss battles. Literally none of SwSh's bosses are memorable to me other than Leon, Eternatus (admittedly only because of its presentation quality), the final battle against Mustard, and the first battle against Klara. Raihan is okay, but not consistently challenging. Meanwhile, in the Gen 7 games, most of the Totem battles were A+, and you also had tough climactic bouts like Lusamine 1, Guzma, Kukui, Ultra Necrozma, and the aforementioned RR bosses.
I've also talked about how Poké Pelago mops the floor with Poké Jobs, as it had a far more interesting and worthwhile economy, and it let me feel like my extra Pokémon were off relaxing on a nice island rather than enduring hard labor for other peoples' benefit. All that while also letting you passively accumulate treasure items, EVs, and happiness points, as well as offering the most convenient Berry farming system in the series.
Just to be clear, this is not really a "big picture" sort of proposition, so I'm not really looking for things that "the series" as a broad entity might have handled better in older games than it does in newer ones. The exact nature of what it was that took a step back in each case can be anything - art style, gameplay, level design, you name it - but am specifically asking for opinions on Gen 1 in direct relation to Gen 2, Gen 2 in direct relation to Gen 3, and so on.
As for my choices:
Gen 1 > Gen 2
This one is pretty difficult, considering how bare-bones Gen 1 is in comparison to its successor. Gen 2 really did add a ton of improvements and additions to the game structure. But I suppose the first thing that comes to my mind is the storyline. I think the plot of RBY has always felt quintessential and timeless, with a clear goal and clear antagonists, while Gen 2 fumbles in trying to work like a sequel, and the story lacks a sense of momentum. To me, RBY feels like a quest, while GSC feels like a lark.
Gen 2 > Gen 3
Post-game content. I'm not saying they should have had us travel to Johto or anything, nor am I saying that GSC's post-game was flawless, but going from the amount of stuff there is to do after becoming the Champion in GSC to having basically just the Battle Tower and Contests is pretty jarring, and without having any online options to switch to, it makes Hoenn feel dead. Emerald's Battle Frontier does help to mitigate against this... provided you're willing to invest in it.
Gen 3 > Gen 4
Presentation of the new Pokémon. The Hoenn games are light-years better at showcasing the new species introduced in them than the Sinnoh games are. Obviously, Platinum makes efforts to make up for what DP failed to do, but Hoenn nailed it right off the bat, with so many new Pokémon faces to meet right from the beginning. Zigzagoon, Poochyena, Wurmple, Taillow, Wingull, Seedot/Lotad, Ralts, Slakoth, Shroomish, Nincada - you are likely to have seen all of those before the first Gym. It really makes a strong impression.
Gen 4 > Gen 5
Mythical Pokémon events. While I'm not the biggest fan of these in general, if they're going to exist, then I suppose I'd rather they have something interesting to say or have us do.
I also think there are a few miscellaneous features from Gen 4 that it would have been nice to see carried over. Nothing particularly big; I'm just thinking of things like following Pokémon (all those walking sprites still exist in the code of BW, and are used in the Entree Forest), Poké Ball seals, and a photography feature like the one in HGSS.
Gen 5 > Gen 6
There's actually a lot for me to choose from here, lol. For now, I think I'll just mention the music. While I do like XY's soundtrack (it produced some of my favorite themes in the series, after all), I missed the dynamic sounds that BW put to great use in so many parts of the game, as well as the personalised Gym themes from B2W2. In fairness, I can understand why the former probably had to happen, at least (I'm guessing differences in the DS and 3DS audio systems).
Gen 6 > Gen 7
But also, I think the post-game storylines were better in Gen 6. Questionable though its ethics may be, the Looker Bureau is a character-driven pulp detective saga that makes good use of Lumiose City's geography, while the UB round-up in SM relies way too much on copy-and-paste sequences and offers less character intrigue and development in favor of some neat, but ultimately pointless lore implications.
Furthermore, although I would say that Episode RR scores higher than the Delta Episode in terms of puzzles and boss battles, it's also a blatant mish-mash of fanservice with no semblance of logic holding it together, and while that's not necessarily a bad thing (especially in the context of the 20th anniversary), I think I just prefer the Delta Episode's approach of seriously trying to continue the story of the main game, rather than taking a sudden sharp turn to go to an unrelated nostalgia party. Also, that Deoxys reveal and subsequent battle in space is still awesome.
Gen 7 > Gen 8
Boss battles. Literally none of SwSh's bosses are memorable to me other than Leon, Eternatus (admittedly only because of its presentation quality), the final battle against Mustard, and the first battle against Klara. Raihan is okay, but not consistently challenging. Meanwhile, in the Gen 7 games, most of the Totem battles were A+, and you also had tough climactic bouts like Lusamine 1, Guzma, Kukui, Ultra Necrozma, and the aforementioned RR bosses.
I've also talked about how Poké Pelago mops the floor with Poké Jobs, as it had a far more interesting and worthwhile economy, and it let me feel like my extra Pokémon were off relaxing on a nice island rather than enduring hard labor for other peoples' benefit. All that while also letting you passively accumulate treasure items, EVs, and happiness points, as well as offering the most convenient Berry farming system in the series.
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