>>46271333It doesn't ruin the game's identity because A CLASSIC STARTER being the ace of "THE PREVIOUS GENERATION OF GYM CHALLEGERS WHO BECAME THE CHAMPION' adds to the theme. Leon is quite literally supposed to be us and we try to overtake his exact same feat.
At best you can complain "why is it charizard and not blastoise" or whatever, but it being charizard makes thematic sense on another level too since it's rivalry with Raihan's Duraludon echoes the white dragon vs red dragon painting of british lore.
