>>32916230Character limit keeps me from addressing everything, but as someone whose favorite/second favorite(depending on if the shadow pokemon games count) gen is 3, yes.
For what it lacks, there's improvements, mainly the rivals. Remember the optional last fight with the rival blocking Lilycove Mart and they still had a stage 1 starter? Plus, Wally's more than just a kid you see twice then sits in Victory Road for the rest of the game.
Another improvement is difficult to use pokemon being made more feasible e.g. Feebas will always be found fishing under the bridge on the route before Fortree, rather than a couple random tiles. This also includes weaker pokemon getting a buff like Shiftry and Castform getting Hurricane; Volbeat, Illumise, and Slakoth getting Play Rough; Vibrava getting Boomburst; Cradily and Armaldo getting Brine; and Luvdisc getting Draining Kiss.
Also, though HMs are the same as RSE, Fly can take you to literally any route in the game, dropping you off by the sign that says what route. You even get a key item that acts as fly so you don't need a fly slave in your party.
Breeding is easy in the postgame battle resort+gen6 breeding mechanics. But even before then, the Dexnav lets you conceivably use pokemon with hidden abilities and/or egg moves in a playthrough(except nuzlockes). You can use Boomburst Taillow before the first gym or conceivably use a Poochyena with Fire Fang and not have it screwed by Dark being special.
This is without going into the Delta Episode, which was certainly a better postgame than "Hey, I'm Looker. We missed part of the evil team and they're up to no good, let's do a small operation after you saved the world from basically gods. Okay, good job see you next game."
TL;DR It's no HGSS or FRLG and your mileage will vary, but I feel there's enough in these games for someone to enjoy what's new. Easy, but Nuzlocke, don't use EXP share, and/or use lower base stat pokemon on your team if you want it to be harder.
