>>35624371It was a nice start for the 3DS Pokemon series. The graphics could have been a bit better, but overall it was quite an improvement.
Quality of life changes were everywhere. There was still a good amount of challenge although things like Exp. Share made it much easier. The Pokemon selection was great, but also having too many Pokemon de-emphasized the new Pokemon and started to feel unexciting after a while. "Woooooo, it's Miltank."
PSS had the best wireless functionality in the series. Amie was great and sort of replaced Pokemon following you. Other additions like Super Training and trainer customization were welcome.
The region was pretty, although it started to feel a little bit bland after a while. Might've dragged on a bit too long. The pacing was awful, with the massive leap between gyms 1 and 2. The villain team and their plot was also a step down, but I still like the characters.
The supporting cast was ok, the rivals were kind of forgettable.
Mega Evolution broke the game a bit and shoehorning Lucario and the Kanto starters in was a bit much. Also, while the Pokemon selection is great, it never really incentivizes you to actually use any of those different Pokemon. Most Let's Play teams I've seen have been some variation of:
Kanto Starter
Kalos Starter
Talonflame/Pidgeot
Lucario
Lapras
Snorlax
Maybe a Florges or Aegislash or something in there.
The game made changes to encourage you to use lots of different Pokemon, but it gives you half your team on a silver platter. If you didn't start with Greninja, why would anyone not just want to use the Lapras they give you as your ferry?
Not enough postgame, left threads dangling.
But overall, despite the drawbacks. it felt like the ultimate Pokemon experience up to that point, like limitations had been holding it back up until then but now it could truly shine. At the time it came out I would've recommended it as the perfect jumping-on point for the series.
