I recently decided to replay Pokémon Heart Gold. I hadn't played it since 2011 and thought it would be worth a revisit, especially since I always had a deep affinity for this game ever since the original Gold came out.

Well, unfortunately for myself, I now hate the area of Johto. Once an area I revered greatly, I no longer view it fondly. It's dull, compact and completely lacks uniqueness. Aside from the ice cave just before the 8th badge, I am struggling to find any positive defining location in this game. I could perhaps consider Mt. Silver one such location, but that's damn pathetic. Johto also has too many dark caves.

Consider my nostalgia goggles and rose-tinted glasses gone. Just before Monday, Pokémon Gold and the area of Johto were my two favorite things in the series. After today, they've been relegated to the bottom of the barrel. I replayed Gold in its prime dozens of times and Heart Gold at least twice years ago, so I'm not sure what caused the sudden change of heart.

Fuck.

Also I recently replayed R/S/E and the level design still holds up quite well today while putting S/M/US/UM to shame. I really love the sense of exploration that the Hoenn region has.