>>45935553>Kanto pandering isn't a problem at all, I do not consider it criticism worth listening to anymore.For the sequel games coming out immediately after the smash success that was the first generation, it speaks of a lack of confidence in their ability to create something new and memorable so they rely on what people already like as a crutch, and it's something they've fallen back on more and more recently due to people's nostalgia. This can have a detrimental effect on gameplay when it's clear that some Pokemon are given preferential treatment over other in regards like Mega Evolutions, Z-Moves and Gigantamax forms because they're Gen 1 fan favorites while others are left to languish. Would Kangaskhan have been nearly as likely to get a game breaking Mega Evolution if it wasn't a Gen 1 Pokemon? Probably not. Would Charizard have gotten two Mega Evolutions and a Gigantamax if it were say, Gen 4's Fire starter? Absolutely not. Disregarding all of that in relation to the newer games, as far as Johto goes, it's boring and lazy. If I wanted to fight a Pidgey and Pidgeotto, I could just play Red and Blue. The amount of Pidgeys and Pidgeottos I've fought vastly outnumbers the amount of Johto Flying types. It doesn't feel like I'm playing a new game, it feels like I'm playing a worse, easier rehash of an old game where a level 9 Pidgeotto apparently counts as a boss and not a rare wild encounter. When you fight Roxanne, she can give you a hard time because her Nosepass isn't something you're used to, it isn't an Onix with a worthless special defense stat and it can tank a few hits, this is on top of Nosepass being something you haven't seen before as a first time player. For new players it's uninteresting because we know what a Pidgeotto is, where to get one and what it's capable of, and for old players it's worse. Seeing a Gym Leader send out a Pokemon you haven't seen before inspires you to find one yourself, if not to use on your team then to simply collect it.
