>>58951327This is a good summary.
>recreating that feeling of explorationAlola had a LOT going for it in terms of design. It was based on Hawaii, but rather than just making a few tropical islands, they fleshed out entire ecosystems that didn't feel too out of place. Going to a new place was genuinely exciting.
>Pokemon varietySun and Moon made me use a lot of Pokemon I probably would have never actually used normally. It made me stop going through my usual starter and HM slave team and actually try using the new Pokemon I found, and I found myself constantly changing my team as I progressed. I can't remember the last time I did that prior to SM.
>The dialogueWhile I agree that it wasn't exactly the best, it still helped flesh out characters to the point that you could say you knew them. From arriving in Alola to getting your first pokemon,you already know a good deal about several characters. By the time you do your first major rival battle, Hau is already your friend. By the time you leave the first island, you are already well acquainted with Lillie and Kukui as if they were always in your life. The campiness of the dialogue was just part of its charm, honestly. USUM improved it a lot, but the original had its charms.