I'm not even a genwunner and I think that gens 1 and 2 are objectively inferior to the later gens, but you guys are crazy if you think there isn't an overall change in the artistic philosophy of Pokemon.
Gen 1 designs are, GENERALLY SPEAKING, simplistic in concept. Take the starters, for example. Venusaur is plant + reptile, Charizard's just a generic dragon, and Blastoise is a turtle + guns. That's the entire basis of their concepts. Now, there are certainly exceptions, ie Jynx and Magmar, but that's why they are exceptions. No one seriously believes that all of the original 151 were simple.
Compare to Gen 6 starters. In addition to the element + animal theme behind them, they now also have the additional theming of representing the standard RPG trio (wizard-warrior-thief). Again, there are some simplistic Gen 6 Pokemon (Fletchling line) but again, exception, not the rule.
This isn't inherently a bad thing, and Pokemon (or any franchise, really) doesn't have an obligation to stay 100% true to its concepts. In fact, I'd say that sticking to one design philosophy for 700+ characters would be a bit crazy and too limiting, but that's just me.
And while I'm at it, a Pokemon is only "over-designed" if and only if they have extra unnecessary elements beyond what their design is supposed to convey. All of Infernape's design elements convey what its supposed to be (a fire-themed sun wukong), so no, it is not over-designed. You don't have to like Infernape's design, shit you don't even have to like Pokemon becoming more complex, but don't pretend that it's an objectively bad thing, when really it's just a different approach entirely.
