I ain't talking bout whether the games/designs were better before, I'm just pointing out that it was better for me as a kid, and for one particular reason.
When I was a kid, I wasn't "free" to go wherever I wanted alone, I always had to be with my parents if I travelled or something.
And that's why I loved Pokemon games, I could imagine going on a journey all alone, wandering cities at night, being free to go wherever I wanted whenever I wanted....etc
On the evenings, I would often look at the mountains I saw on the horizon from the window of my commieblock and imagine myself traveling there with my Pokemon.

But now I'm an adult.
I can go wherever I want whenever I want, I can wander the city at night, I can follow a road for days.....but sadly I found out that there is only boredom and loneliness in this.
So a massive part of the appeal I used to find in Pokemon games was lost with that.

Btw, the reason I dumped my autism there is because I wonder if there is anyone else who feels the same