>>46840459Each game got a bigger focus on Legendaries. In Gen I, they're in the game and that's it. Totally optional, you have to find them yourself.
In GS, they're on the box art and title screens and you get their special items in the story, but they're totally optional. There's also a bit more lore compared to Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. Masuda was sub-director to Tajiri in this game when he wasn't before.
In Crystal, Suicune has a much larger role. I haven't played it so I don’t know if it's required, but there are more story elements and cutscenes for a Legendary. Masuda directed.
In Gen III, the number increased significantly and now the story focuses on the box art ones. You're required to encounter them. Masuda directed.
In Gen IV, it's basically the same as Gen III, except more. The lake trio appears in the story in addition to the box Legendaries and their designs are kind of weak. The number increased from last game. I wouldn't call it as big of a leap as Gen III was from Crystal though.
In Gen V, the overall number decreased for the first time but they started trying really hard to force you to catch the box Legendary, except in B2W2 where you can't even catch it the first encounter.
In Gen VI, it's like they did the box art ones and then gave up on anything else that wasn't Kanto.
