Gens 1+2 are the real Pokemon. Sure, I'll accept some later designs that fit in with the older world. Hell, I didn't start to hate mainline Pokemon until Gen 6. But as time went on, I realized that Gen 1+2 had the best artstyle and world atmosphere. Gen 3 retained some of it, particularly early on, but by Gen 4 it was all kinda lost. the fact that the series has largely stagnated hasn't helped. I remember when I was younger thinking that a Pokemon game on a gamecube equivalent handheld would be a God game.

Romhacks and ideafagging are what keep me in, particularly Gen 2 romhacks with Pokecrystal, allowing the best of later gens to be pilfered. Once 9bit is complete, I can port over the Pokemon designs I like and think fit well enough in the Gen 2 worldview and retreat to the Pokemon I always dreamed about. The spaceworld leaks were also the best thing that happened to this series in years. Quite frankly, a majority of those designs, which are unfinished and mostly just rough sprites with some not even having notes of what they're supposed to be, vibed with me better than Gens 4-9.

Anyways, I just wanted to make this thread. Are there others like me, stuck in the past and unable to most beyond it thanks to Pokebrainrot? Post whatever thoughts you have, I don't care.