>>36415021X/Y: Introduced a bunch of cool features that actually lasted like Amie, trainer customization, and Mega Evolution, Kalos was a very nice and very beautiful region with some god-tier imaginative, if linear, routes (“Route” 1 is a “why” moment but doesn’t nearly ruin the game) that unfortunately had a lot of trouble establishing a unique identity. A bunch of content you’re bound to miss, like the biggest ’Dex the series has seen so far. PSS is heaven. Better customization options overall than Sun and Moon. TL;DR: Tech demo games that probably deserved a second round.
OR/AS: Suffer from not being able to decide whether they’re also remakes of Emerald or not. No trainer customization but keeps everything else from X and Y. Dexnav and soaring are awesome. Secret bases at their peak. Improves a little bit on the water zones by lowering encounter rate, adding surfing Ace Trainers, and the nicely hidden option to go mondo-fast with Sharpedo. National Dex access and a ton of new species to go with it before the postgame. Bring
a genie and Heatran to the Elite Four if you’d like.
FUCKING FIGHT DEOXYS IN SPACE HOLY SHIT IT’S KINDA DUMB BUT IT’S HYPE AS FUCKS&M: TONS of poor game design decisions, makes being able to explore two routes, and a recycling facility before advancing the plot feel like freedom, and Alola is even more linear than Unova despite the first two islands not being designed to accommodate that in a natural way. First Pokémon experience I didn’t just generally enjoy. Removing the National Dex is a crime. Trying to fix HMs is a noble cause but removing field moves is a crime. On the plus side, has the best quality of Pokémon and character designs of any generation so far.
Ultra S&M: Better gameplay in terms of anything that’s not scripted, worse storyline.
I still haven’t fought Olivia because it’s so hard to motivate myself to play the games 