>>40545252You have to see "features" as something larger, because some spheres are still filled even though they seemingly got gutted. People often say that VS seeker was permanently removed, etc. when every game has its own ways of filling its purpose, some more efficient than others: Audino/stadiums, Unova's Challenge, Battle Chateau, etc.. Contests and Pokeathlon could then also be said to fill the same sphere of a side activity requiring the use of pokemon. Battle Frontier, PWT and Battle Maison all have their unique features and also fill the same sphere.
What you should focus on isn't "features" but spheres or playstyles. Removing things like battle formats, Megas or Pokemon is unforgivable. You CAN level pokemon, engage in side activities or battle the AI in just about any game, but if something critical, playstyle-defining was removed, you just can't. I want to Triple battle. What can I do? Doubles? Fuck off, it's literally the same thing but with less options. It is strictly inferior. Don't even get me started on Rotation. You can't even play a poor man's version of it anymore, since it can't even be considered a superset of another format like Triple. With megas, snap goes the viability of most of the affected pokemon. Need I remind how the concept of megas leans towards building your team around them? Better just try some ghetto shit then, or just play a better game that doesn't hobble or remove your playstyle. The implications of removing entire pokemon go without saying. When you go towards the path of removing core features unique in purpose, the new game is no longer comparable with past ones regarding the features, but strictly inferior. Oh, sure you have some new gimmicks added in. But tell me, have you any faith in engaging in those gimmicks when they have just demonstrated, viciously, that anything is liable to get removed with no warning, rendering your investment null and void?
