>>55449494very hard, but I'm a relative casual
apparently the game is designed to force you to use specific strategies, the first gym has a shuckle that has a 100% sleep move + curse + rollout (so you're required to bring a pokemon with charm), the second has a hitmonchan with a quick claw and near-perfect coverage
not to mention wild pokemon are low level so there's nowhere to really grind properly (especially early game)
plus the gym puzzles are fucking cancerous (especially the 7th gym)
apparently the postgame turns it up to 11 too
imo just play vega minus or viva las vega
