>>50188786In my opinion there needs to be another BW-type reset.
The graphics need to be on point, no matter if it's 2D or 3D.
The designs need to be clever and look like Pokemon, with the proper artstyle and quality control.
The music needs to be good, again sounding like actual Pokemon tunes.
The balance needs to be perfect, with no shitmons whatsoever, nothing broken or overpowered, a consistently high yet fair amount of challenge throughout the experience.
The map design needs to be intricate, with inspired and awe-inspiring traversal mechanics, and engaging and rewarding exploration.
The pacing and speed needs to be snappy, with no (needlessly) time-wasting elements whatsoever, to respect an adult player's time; this goes for breeding, shiny hunting, animations and data feedback, and so on.
The story and plot and lore (both plot-related and pokemon-related, i.e. dex entries) needs to be well-written, riveting, thought-provoking, and expansive, yet well presented in a way that doesn't amount to massive exposition dumps and drawn out cutscenes jarringly, not seamlessly, interrupting the flow of the adventure.
The character design needs to be stellar, both looks-wise and personality wise, creating people we will remember, cherish, want to interact with---and this also means making the NPCs actual characters rather than glorified tutorials you rush through dialogue with in the off-chance they'll hand you an item.
Competitive play needs to finally be released, with a real alternative to Smogon and Pokemon Showdown offered right in the very games but isn't bogged down by autistic manchildrens' idea of what fun and fairness is.
Again, the games should be decently challenging with many ways to adjust and tailor the difficulty supported.
Good gimmicks are a plus, with non-battling game features going a long way to diversify the gameplay, create an immersive experience for what is supposed to be at base a series about raising creatures.
By no means an exhaustive list.
