>>37015491In Gen2 nothing besides Marill really ticks all the boxes. Togepi doesn't work because it's a freakin baby, not a partner you give a dumb haircut and a silly hat as they jump off your shoulder into the battle.
And Let's Go Marill/Sentret just wouldn't stand out as much as the first Let's Gos...
So it'd probably just be the safest and simplest: Let's Go Pikachu 2 and Let's Go Eevee 2.
You know that's what it's gonna be, not just because GSC were sequels to RBY anyway, but because it would sell better than anything you can pick from gen2 100%.
For Hoenn, they might feel confident in the Let's Go brand to change up the mascots (which they would have to from Hoenn not even having Eevee).
They could use Marill this time, and while Skitty might seem like a replacement for Eevee, with the closed eyes and tiny body it doesn't do it well.
The actual solution are of course Plusle and Minun, as they heavily resemble Pikachu, while tying into a lot of the themes of Hoenn.
But
When it comes to Sinnoh, I don't think they'd pick Riolu. Pachirisu and Shinx are the closest to the kind of PKMN for the job.
Gen5 does have some more obvious candidates as the mascots:
Let's Go Minccino & Zorua
Also works as a refresher from the overfocus on Electric types at this point.
Gen6 would have to somehow go back to Pikachu and Eevee, because things like Espurr and Pancham are just too odd and Litleo doesn't even have the personality of Shinx with its staring eyes.
