>>39644195I think it's a mix of associated disappointment with NatDex, the fact that they're taking an inherently new design approach (the interview where they confirm game designers and artists have been paired together) and a lack of Sugimori/James as Art Director. Now I love James and his designs but the thing he's strongest at is making rather otherwordly or wacky designs, things that really stand out amongst the crowd and have this air of unease to them. It's fucking fantastic, again I love his designs. But it just doesn't work when all of them have that same feeling - a lot of the "balance" that Sugimori talked about putting in Pokemon does feel missing from a lot of the designs. Corviknight and Wooloo are probably the most popular so far (or at least the most generally accepted) with the fanbase at large and they're fine designs but really do feel like they belong in "too cool" and "too cute" respectively to the point where they become sorta bland and one-note.
Any speculative bullshit aside though, they are definitely taking a new approach to designs. They've said it outright. The reception to the designs, at least here, serves as a proof of concept that something is different about them and that's just how it is for better or worse.
