>>32908468>>32908523I'm really not sure what the purpose for including ride Pokemon was when it comes to SM. The majority of Pokemon are redundant in my opinion- why does machamp, mudsdale, and tauros exist? they all do essentially the same thing- using their strength to overcome an obstacle. Herdier is different because it uses its smell to find items, and charizard is your flight alternative. It's likely just for flavour and to block off portions of the game until you unlock those helper pokemon, but still strange.
But I agree with you that helper Pokemon seem completely unrelated to you and your adventure. They appear in a puff of smoke and change the music and completely change the pacing of the area you were previously just walking through. You don't have any attachment to them, you may not even like the Pokemon itself, and (excluding surfing Pokemon like lapras) they seem unnecessary.
I think my real gripe with the HM system in the past is that they are very poor moves (again, excluding surf) that you just teach to an HM slaves that wastes a slot on your team. Perhaps instead it should not be tied to a HM move that you have to teach, but to the type of Pokemon you have on your team. Let someone who has a tentacruel be able to surf on it, or a boldore to use strength, or a primape to use rock climb, or drifblim use fly. It would make people build varied teams in terms of Pokemon physical shape and size.
