>>47481630Just give me another Barry. I don't know why everyone shits on him when he's objectively the best GF can do for such a doomed fate that is being the player's rival. Unless fights become losable, there's not very much choice in how rivals develop over the course of the game. A good example of this creatively bankrupt role would be how many people suggest the rival gets angry the more they lose then proceed to join the evil team. Temtem did that and it was proof it's dogshit.
What makes Barry so great is that he's fairly neutral on the spectrum. He's not sucking you off the entire game, but he's not a dickhead either; he's a respectable friend, and encourages developing an attachment because that's a desirable quality in friend-making. Also, if anything, he fits the bill of a rival a lot better than most as when he's challenging you, it's to a healthy competition. He respects you as the player by giving you agency without being too consistent, while also expressing while he thinks about you when it's necessary, he's also thinking about himself, too. Not only that, his team is pretty scary, especially to a kid. I mean, Intimidate Staraptor btfo's all the Chimcharfags even though he has an Empoleon in the back to double-down. Posing a genuine challenge makes you feel like the game considers your skill level isn't average anymore, seeing as how most players are previous fans and thus adept at understanding the game; for once the game's grown up with you.
Even better is that you can challenge him on weekends after you beat the game, each battle his team getting higher in levels. His dad is also a Frontier Brain, too. Simply put, Barry is just based.
