>>58035860Honestly, I prefer Tajiri and Masuda's storytelling over Ohmori. I actually think that SV have the best conventional story of the mainline games, but I don't really think that kind of story is what fits Pokémon games best. Ohmori's stories seem to be told vicariously: you're either not the main character, or share the spotlight with other characters (this is most obvious in SM with Lillie). They're too human-centric: the human characters are the main thing about the story, and everything surrounds them.
While this was already started to be seen in Masuda's Gen V and VI, I feel like their environmental storytelling was good enough and the regions had enough character (yes, even XY's Kalos) to mantain this idea of nature and Pokémon being at the center. After all, BW's story, while centered on N's character, is still themed around Pokémon.
But really, I think that the best storytelling is not in the latest games, and it isn't even in Gen V. It's in RSE: the entire story is centered around nature, the entire game is centered around nature. Hoenn is a vibrant place, full of interesting people and Pokémon. And the idea of Pokémon as kami, as nature personified, is one that is still carries a lot of weight and can be clearly seen; unlike in newer entries, where, at least to me, Pokémon - aside from the occasional legendary - don't really tie into the world; they're just there. Galar and Paldea also don't really have strong characters or identities of their own.
I don't want to sound like a hater, nor some kind of nostalgia-blinded Hoennbaby. I still enjoy and have fun with the newer games. But I think that Hoenn was Pokémon at its best - that feeling of grandiose adventure, that newer games can't capture anymore.
(I also just miss Masuda as a director. I think /vp/ gives him too much flak)
Sorry if I come off as very rambly. My thoughts are a disorganized mess...
