Get the negatives out of the way. The game was very much clearly rushed out. Post game Content was lacking with no 3rd version to fix it. To heavy on Kanto Pandering. A lot of towns are just get to the Gym and leave, Like one of them has a massive sun dial and I don't think anyone truly talks about it, just really lacking in world building making it very easy to forget them despite having nice visuals.
Sky Battles ruined flying pokemon.
XY was the beginning of the end, but it was the beginning of it so it managed to keep some charm that older games had.
Route designs can be pretty good with a decent amount to explore in them, they also have a lot of variety so you never get bored. Route 15 is genuinely great and you find that broken down hotel where you can even Rotoms in.
Reflection Cave allows trainers to see behind them and that's pretty cute.
Music is also pretty fuckin good.
https://youtu.be/uQXXGOE4xJ0
https://youtu.be/_QW5SHwJpzM
https://youtu.be/DaKBjARg8G8
https://youtu.be/AFwdVyZszlk
https://youtu.be/7qLiDODCsDQ
Musically it has a lot going for it.
Is XY some sort of hidden gem that we misjudged? No.
If this game got to be truly finished, fleshed out it could have been damn good, I don't know it it would be the absolute best but it could been great and that's what stings the most. It just isn't.
I remember when XY the first 3D mainline games were announced and it was a MASSIVE event in history. I was so hyped by it and at the time I loved it. But as time went I saw the cracks, every playthrough I realized just how empty the game was in some areas.
I don't think it's bad but it has become clear that it is painfully middling at times.
Worst of all it isn't just a rocky transition as every game had progressively gotten worse, 3DS era was very shakey and Switch Era has just been pretty horrid.