>>52556461Thats rather simple, the anime didn't have the same formula as far later seasons. Sure it was collect the badges, but the badges were in retrospect not the main focus aside from the orange islands, at best you could say the badges were milestones. It was more about exploring and fleshing out a world. A world that barely existed at all even with the early prototype mangas and the 1st gen mainline games. The ability to see new towns, islands, cities, private abodes (some haunted), ancient ruins, and more that were not present in the games. Even if Ash wasn't winning a badge, part of the interest was in seeing where Ash and his friends would wind-up next. As it was new to the characters as it was the audience.
A perfect way to highlight what I am saying, is even in the first movie. The great building that was lavishly decorated and constructed by mewtwo is seen nowhere in the games. Meanwhile the mewtwo in the games is off in the cerulean cave.
