>>45657297Third versions are a better vehicle for generation expansion than DLC.
Despite being a predatory and honestly disgusting business tactic, the "third version" rereleases do more on average to improve the experience of their original region's game. Other than Yellow...
>CrystalRearranged some encounter tables to give some Pokemon more chance to shine by being available earlier e.g. Poliwag, Teddiursa. The animated sprites are also the best the series has.
>EmeraldMade the new battle style, double battles, a much more prominent feature. Spiced up the gym leader teams. Replaced the uninspired and mostly pointless Battle Tower with a Battle Frontier that has 7 different game modes and exclusive move tutors.
>PlatinumExpanded the regional dex to let the new cross-gen evos get some main game exposure, fixed up weird gym rosters (e.g. Volkner), added a bit more to do in the post-game.
>Ultra ChangesExpanded the regional dex, made the maingame less brainless via stronger totems and the beach move tutors
and added the best Ultra BeastSwSh's DLCs just pile on top of the base game without directly fixing any of its flaws. Sure the expanded dex and routes are nice, but they aren't integrated into the main campaign at all. They feel more like pay-to-win cheats than natural extensions of the world.
