>>45690256>just because it's rushed and has cut corners doesn't make it the lesser game when it comes to graphics.That's the core of the argument though. PBR WAS extremely rushed and had to cut a lot of corners. Gale of Darkness was slated to have a sequel before it even released, and many of those elements snuck their way into PBR. Even as a battle frontier online sim, PBR was rushed to the point where they only made skin tones and new models for Gen 1-2 Pokemon for the international release, as the JP one was slated to come out before these were possible.
That's the issue. Diamond and Pearl proved that games can be delayed up to two years with no adverse affects on the series as a whole (some would even argue the time period between Emerald and DP is one of the best) meanwhile spinoffs and sidegames don't get that luxury.
They had their heart in the right place. They knew they needed to make a fleshed out battle sim and they did it. The rentals were very gimmicky compared to Stadium's take on it but the rest of the game still holds itself up to a certain level of polish without relying on gimmicks.
You can't say the same for SWSH. A good portion of PBR's development was spent trying (and failing) to make new models for older Pokemon, SWSH only had to spruce up the face rigs and textures at best.
PBR was rushed out specifically to ensure that DP had a Battle Frontier/Online matchmaking add-on. Had this not been the case, it very well could have been Colosseum 3.
You can ask James himself. He won't say PBR was meant to be the one but there's no reason for him to deny that it was ever considered. There's a reason the Galarian birds are stylistically similar to Shadow Lugia.
