>>51573151Probably due to the following, and I say this as someone who genuinely likes XY
>first game to add affection bonuses to exp via Amie, same goes for the bonuses to critical hits, dodging, removing status effects, 1 hp, etc>first game to add a multiplicative, party-wide exp share, but this fortunately was still optional. I've done playthroughs with and without it, and not using it feels similar to any of the previous games in terms of leveling compared to opponents.>free Mega starters at the start including Torchic as >>51573172 said, as well as a Kanto one. Also a gift Mega Lucario later on>first game to really give me a feeling of being led by the hand via NPCs and dialogue.>the switch to pure 3D included a simplifying of routes and dungeons, making them much easier to navigate. Compare the Flare Hideout to the Game Corner Rocket Hideout in Kanto, its nigjt and day. This isn't exclusive to Pokemon, it's something I've noticed in other RPGs that mad a switch to 3D That's pretty much all I can think of. I've played every gen from 2-8, and even back in 2013 I noticed a substantial change in the games from BW2 to XY, and these changes have only increased in later generations
Again, I like XY, but this is the honest truth.