Im replaying Crystal right now and Im noticing a lot of issues with the game.
I always loved gen 2, the ost, the visuals, the exploration of the region is just very fun and overall "comfy" times.
Really feels like an adventure for the most part but there are some glaring issues which have been stated here before such as:
-Few Johtomon, Im at Blackthorn City and have only 3 pokemon so far in my party and some of the ones I'd like to use such as Houndoom and Misdreavus are locked behind postgame.
-Awful trainer battle levels, most trainers are as strong or usually weaker than grass pokemon, you end up earning very little exp which makes it harder to form an actual team of 6 without a lot of grinding (I recently beat Pokemon RED and didnt find this an issue and still didnt grind, ended up with a team around late 40s early 50s)
- Most pokemon have HORRIBLE movepools, my Xatu only has future sight, peck, and fly to rely on. No confusion, no access to psychic until Kanto...
Meganium is stuck with Razor Leaf until I find the tm for giga drain or learn Solar Beam which is a 2 move turn...
-Game is noticeably rushed, Jasmine gym doesnt even have trainers to fight its just a hallway to a pathetic 3 pokemon gym leader battle.
Honestly,gen 2 was a good improvement in regards to the visuals, the ost, being able to explore many routes and most of them having secret paths to find stuff in, but when it comes to team building and in general the actual gameplay, despite not being as broken as gen 1, it feels like a step down personally.
