its probably the most "balanced" gen (as in pokemon not being totally overpowered compared to "weaker" ones, and unlike gen2 it isnt a bulky stallfest) both competitively and ingame.
I like the story and pokemon, and Team Magma and Aqua made the two different games actually FEEL slightly different (even though they were just the same enemies, just switching the Camerupt and Sharpedo lines), and it made the third version even more satifying.
People might find the lack of Physical/special split off-putting, but it honestly works in its favour, because many of the already good pokemon (like salamence) would have become way more overpowered (there is a reason it was banned in gen4 competitive)
