>>33117966>BUT GUESS WHAT? THE ONLY INTERESTING PART OF THEN WERE THE BATTLES.Except they were not. The most interesting part of the trials were the captains. They were actual people and not just some random nobody at the back of the building. That's what makes the trials "refreshing", "ways to make stronger bonds between pokemon and people" and "not only about battles".
In precious games, gym leaders barely had any relevance. They didn't do shit in the plot, they didn't even talk to you for more than two lines. Hell, the most fleshed-out were usually the champions, especially in hoenn and sinnoh. Now, the trial captains actually have a character, a life besides their captain work, and interact with you during your journey, besides the usual "testing your worth".
