Wasn't sure whether to place this here or not, but since it is a debate...
We always hear it with every new generation: Pokemon is going downhill; the Pokemon are less creative/original than before; the creators are running out of ideas; Pokemon is getting boring/repetitive. How many of us have said this, may it be a spurt-of-the-moment reaction to new information or because we truly believe it? Skim any Pokemon forum and you'll see these arguments used over and over again.
Is it the truth?
Think about your own enjoyment of the games. Overall has it grown over the years or waned? And do you see yourself still actively enjoying it 5 years down the road?
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Before I start rambling, I'm going state my opinion up front: I do not think the series has declined over the years. This has nothing to do with sales, repetitiveness in the anime, or a few unoriginal Pokemon. It's my overall enjoyment, and it's clear to me that I love the series just as much, if not more, than I ever have.
Will the creators ever be able to recapture the sensation of "newness" when it comes to the series? No, they probably won't, but the reason why is obvious. You only get one first impression - you're only a newbie once. Does that mean future games can't be better, though? Of course not, but we'll never forget that feeling of entering an unknown world. It's life.
Now... Let's look at the games.
Each generation has improved from the last. R/B were horribly unbalanced with Psychic-types, thus Dark-types were created. 1 on 1 battles were getting repetitive, thus 2 on 2 came into being (and man am I glad they did). More is not always better, but IMO ALL of the changes to the Pokemon series - Natures, Abilities, the new HMs, Steel and Dark types - are great and well wanted. It all just builds together to expand the gameplay and give us something new to work with.
Even with Natures, Pokemon is still as simple or complex as you make it. If you don't want to bother with Natures or EVs, don't. Even with a lowered stat it doesn't make a difference for the main game. It's only serious battling that they count, and having optimal customizability is what competitive battlers need. It's what allows us to really show our abilities at strategizing.
To me, Ruby and Sapphire are the best set of games. They may have horrid leveling up issues, but they gave us so many new things that even FR/LG don't have (berry growing, diving, etc.). Since Emerald is a step up from them it's only going to be that much better. I think I'm more excited about it than I was the remakes. If Diamond and Pearl continue on with all the new things Emerald and FR/LG have to offer they will be undeniably the best Pokemon games yet.
Now, the Pokemon. I've said it before, GS is my least favourite generation - both for the region and Pokemon. As for Hoenn... I can not look at the Pokemon series and not think of the Hoenn Pokemon. They're just as important to me as the original 151. Maybe some of the new Hoenn breeds are plain, but EVERY generation had plain Pokemon. Yes, even the original. Dugtrio, Magneton, Electrode... We love them for whatever reasons, but they are no where more creative than the worst Hoenn Pokemon.
There's much, much more to say, but all this is just adding up to one thing: if Pokemon continues on like this I'll be a fan until they stop making the games. People who say it's the same as it always was aren't paying attention, and people who can't adapt to the changes have to realize without change you can't have progress. Seriously, would you really rather play through a whole new generation of games with no new Pokemon? There'd be a few new gameplay additions but it'd just be the same old battle strategies... What's the point?
We always hear it with every new generation: Pokemon is going downhill; the Pokemon are less creative/original than before; the creators are running out of ideas; Pokemon is getting boring/repetitive. How many of us have said this, may it be a spurt-of-the-moment reaction to new information or because we truly believe it? Skim any Pokemon forum and you'll see these arguments used over and over again.
Is it the truth?
Think about your own enjoyment of the games. Overall has it grown over the years or waned? And do you see yourself still actively enjoying it 5 years down the road?
--------------------------------
Before I start rambling, I'm going state my opinion up front: I do not think the series has declined over the years. This has nothing to do with sales, repetitiveness in the anime, or a few unoriginal Pokemon. It's my overall enjoyment, and it's clear to me that I love the series just as much, if not more, than I ever have.
Will the creators ever be able to recapture the sensation of "newness" when it comes to the series? No, they probably won't, but the reason why is obvious. You only get one first impression - you're only a newbie once. Does that mean future games can't be better, though? Of course not, but we'll never forget that feeling of entering an unknown world. It's life.
Now... Let's look at the games.
Each generation has improved from the last. R/B were horribly unbalanced with Psychic-types, thus Dark-types were created. 1 on 1 battles were getting repetitive, thus 2 on 2 came into being (and man am I glad they did). More is not always better, but IMO ALL of the changes to the Pokemon series - Natures, Abilities, the new HMs, Steel and Dark types - are great and well wanted. It all just builds together to expand the gameplay and give us something new to work with.
Even with Natures, Pokemon is still as simple or complex as you make it. If you don't want to bother with Natures or EVs, don't. Even with a lowered stat it doesn't make a difference for the main game. It's only serious battling that they count, and having optimal customizability is what competitive battlers need. It's what allows us to really show our abilities at strategizing.
To me, Ruby and Sapphire are the best set of games. They may have horrid leveling up issues, but they gave us so many new things that even FR/LG don't have (berry growing, diving, etc.). Since Emerald is a step up from them it's only going to be that much better. I think I'm more excited about it than I was the remakes. If Diamond and Pearl continue on with all the new things Emerald and FR/LG have to offer they will be undeniably the best Pokemon games yet.
Now, the Pokemon. I've said it before, GS is my least favourite generation - both for the region and Pokemon. As for Hoenn... I can not look at the Pokemon series and not think of the Hoenn Pokemon. They're just as important to me as the original 151. Maybe some of the new Hoenn breeds are plain, but EVERY generation had plain Pokemon. Yes, even the original. Dugtrio, Magneton, Electrode... We love them for whatever reasons, but they are no where more creative than the worst Hoenn Pokemon.
There's much, much more to say, but all this is just adding up to one thing: if Pokemon continues on like this I'll be a fan until they stop making the games. People who say it's the same as it always was aren't paying attention, and people who can't adapt to the changes have to realize without change you can't have progress. Seriously, would you really rather play through a whole new generation of games with no new Pokemon? There'd be a few new gameplay additions but it'd just be the same old battle strategies... What's the point?