>>28450331Gen 5 was the first to really put a strong focus on the story. Cheren and Bianca had their own character arcs, and they actually felt like they were really your friends.
Gen 6 was pretty disappointing in regards to that. Other than Shauna, the others barely felt like they were your friends.
Maybe it helps Cheren and Bianca in that unlike the Kalos group, they were supposed to have grown up with you.