remember the whips in gen wun? what would have happened to the pokèmon franchise if the game had been geared towards a more mature audience from the beginning?

would it have had the success it has now, or would it at least have survived in japan?
would it maybe have been a long-lasting, albeit obsure, series destined to become popular in the west only much later, like fire emblem or final fantasy?

and most importantly, how do you think the gameplay would have evolved?