>>25183256Generations 1, 2 and 3 focus more on the shape and purpose of a Pokemon, rather than the visual appeal.
They generally focus more on taking an idea, like a creature with a huge tongue for stunning an opponent, or a giant creature that always sleeps, and then working around that and adding the bare basics to make a memorable Pokemon.
Newer Pokemon are much, much too design based. ''What if we made a Pokemon shaped like cotton candy?'' ''What if we made ANOTHER Fox, but this time, it's...'' etc. There's a shortage of ideas, and without ideas, comes a lack of focus.
What happens THEN, is that Game Freak have to rely on crazy designs to help carry a Pokemon. Stars, stripes, big cutesy eyes, big, bold fashionable colors. It's no longer about the idea, and more the visual intention. It's no longer ''How about a shadow that's always grinning?'' and instead ''What about a Pokemon that's wearing a reflective jacket, except it ISN'T wearing a reflective jacket, it just has perfect, yellow stripes so it just LOOKS like it's wearing one!"
I'm not a genwunner, my favourite games are Black and White and the sequels, but the designs have become so forgettably over designed nowadays.
