>>58692988>What was playing red/blue like for you?Fun, though I haven't beaten it. I put it down and never found the time or convenience to pick it back up.
>Better or worse than you expected?Within expectations. Limited inventory space was a nuisance
>Do you wish you were there for pokemania?Yes and no. Seeing the original anime as it aired would've been a magic all its own. The original TCG scene would've been comfy I bet.
>Is the franchise better now?>Was it better with a more unified art style?I'd say trending towards worse and worse with the rare sprinkling of something good if you're lucky.
In terms of pokedex size, "a unified artstyle", and overall 'feeling' of the pokemon world, I think the first three gens together as one are that peak 'feeling'.
Kanto is iconic, there's a diversity and bubbling potential to pokedex and the world that makes you ask "what other pokemon are out there?"
Johto suffers a little from being treated as a purely supplementary region to Kanto. And while its pokedex is a victim to varying degrees of corporate-baby-pandering the dex as a whole is really strong.
Hoenn is a breath of fresh air, a new stride. An electric shock inspiration, breaking the mold and being entirely its own. Hoenn really makes you say "woah, a whole new region... and I get to discover it". The three together, as one whole, I feel make up a pretty perfect pokedex size while keeping that feeling of new pokemon and new discoveries on the horizon.
