>>14380456How would it lag the game?
It's just one more thing moving on screen there have been tons of games that have had two or even three characters moving on screen like that. It wouldn't lag shit.
At best it would eat up resources. But even then they could easily just modify the battle models. It'd be no where near as hard as you seem to think.
Also it was EIGHT extra sprites per Pokemon. 4 for each direction, and then 4 for shiny. Forme changes also factored in.