>>49973765I think the design are actually bad and the recency bias just accentuate it. They tried to go with a more extreme cartoony design with overexaggerated proportion (Chewtle and Blipbug head, Calirex very big head and small body) and really simple and geometric design (like Eiscue or Stonjourner) and it just didn't work. Just compare two often disliked rock type Rhyperior and Stonjourner: Rhyperior has a more complex and organic design meanwhile Stonjourner design is very simple and geometric. I dislike both but Rhyperior design just "flow" better so I dislike it less than Stonjourner. Add to that some gen 8 pokémon are just agressively bland (Grapploct or Boltund) so even design that could have been good are just meh because they lack personality and you end with a lot of bad design and not enough good design to compensate for it unlike gen 4 or 5 reinforcing the general dislike of the gen. But Legend of Arceus has some really solid design like Hisuian Lilligant so I'm a bit more hopeful for gen 9.
