[18 / 3 / ?]
The games wouldn't be fixed with an open world
The games wouldn't be fixed with less linearity
The main thing that makes these games boring/repetitive are the trainer battles. During the campaign, trainer battles are where players spend the majority of their time, and they are all brainlessly easy, they are just wild pokemon that reward money and sometimes come 2-3 in a row.
They need to reduce the number of trainers but make them all interesting/challenging/unique/etc. Instead of just forcing you to fight them when you see them, you should be able to take them on voluntarily, but treat each trainer like a sidequest. Have trainers reward items/TMs/etc instead of having random NPCs throw that at you after breaking into their houses. Have specific conditions for each trainer battle you can agree to like "can't use items, can only use 3 pokemon each, maybe even can only use grass types." Make trainers have unique strategies like a trainer that uses a trick room team or one that baton passes, and that acts as a tutorial for newer players. Post FFXII style missions where you can find harder trainers under specific conditions with difficulty ratings, and they act as minibosses and give good rewards.
I'm surprised I hardly ever see anyone address trainer battles as an issue, and instead they say "pokemon should be live action, get rid of random encounters, etc" But trainer battles are so fucking boring and comprise the bulk of the playthrough. Who wants to fights some person who apparently wants to become champion but fights you with 4 caterpie?
The games wouldn't be fixed with less linearity
The main thing that makes these games boring/repetitive are the trainer battles. During the campaign, trainer battles are where players spend the majority of their time, and they are all brainlessly easy, they are just wild pokemon that reward money and sometimes come 2-3 in a row.
They need to reduce the number of trainers but make them all interesting/challenging/unique/etc. Instead of just forcing you to fight them when you see them, you should be able to take them on voluntarily, but treat each trainer like a sidequest. Have trainers reward items/TMs/etc instead of having random NPCs throw that at you after breaking into their houses. Have specific conditions for each trainer battle you can agree to like "can't use items, can only use 3 pokemon each, maybe even can only use grass types." Make trainers have unique strategies like a trainer that uses a trick room team or one that baton passes, and that acts as a tutorial for newer players. Post FFXII style missions where you can find harder trainers under specific conditions with difficulty ratings, and they act as minibosses and give good rewards.
I'm surprised I hardly ever see anyone address trainer battles as an issue, and instead they say "pokemon should be live action, get rid of random encounters, etc" But trainer battles are so fucking boring and comprise the bulk of the playthrough. Who wants to fights some person who apparently wants to become champion but fights you with 4 caterpie?
