>>50521740I feel like there was definitely an attempt to make Gen 2 "edgier" than Gen 1 overall - from Gold's design, to Silver being a literal criminal, some of the flavor text having a lot more attitude and even the designs of the starters with Typhlosion and Feraligatr.
Of course this was then counterbalanced by Meganium existing and pretty much most Johto mons being cutesy fluffballs, which always felt like it was at odds with the rest of the game's tone.
