>>21527797>the main story has only gotten better since then.No, the main story has only gotten BIGGER since then. Quality is arguable, but what can't be argued is that newer Pokemon games emphasize the main storyline much more heavily. The game has become more about a scripted story, and less about a solitary experience. The frequent interruptions to gameplay are really taxing when you don't care about the story and just want to be left alone, like you were in earlier gens.
>>21527734Go to Lavender town in Fire Red/Leaf Green. Now go to Lavender Town in Red/Blue. Which feels spookier?
The limited color palette of gen 1 lines up perfectly with spooky locations to make them more haunting; you don't really notice because the whole of Red and Blue are cast in that momochrome grayness. It's like watching an old movie in black and white; certain parts are more scary than they would be in full color, because black and white is by its nature a spooky medium. It's not anything the older games did better than newer games, it's just a fortunate coincidence that the gen 1 palette lends itself well to spookiness and mystery.
Gen 2 had the darkest night time in Pokemon history, thanks in part to the contrast between the dark overworld and the bright yellow lights of house windows.
