HeartGold/SoulSilver to Black and White 2 were peak Pokemon to me. Gen 4.5 to 5.5, basically. You had GameFreak recreating Gold and Silver with incredible amounts of love and faithfulness while building on their foundations to make something genuinely impressive. So many features and functions added on top of an already rock-solid foundation. Then, Gen 5 had them innovating in so many ways. The stories were peak, with genuinely interesting and challenging ideas. The changing seasons added to the exploration of the region, and there was just so much creativity and passion in everything.
Of course, this was also the gen where sales dropped off, which probably taught Gamefreak all the wrong lessons about what people wanted in their Pokemon games....
Heartgold and Soulsilver allowed fighting the gym leaders again, with much stronger teams. It did a good job at presenting some challenges, keeping things fresh, even without taking the PvP aspect. It also had the fight against Red, that normally requires a team in the high 60 / low 70 range, at least.
HeartGold/SoulSilver to Black and White 2 were peak Pokemon to me. Gen 4.5 to 5.5, basically. You had GameFreak recreating Gold and Silver with incredible amounts of love and faithfulness while building on their foundations to make something genuinely impressive. So many features and functions added on top of an already rock-solid foundation. Then, Gen 5 had them innovating in so many ways. The stories were peak, with genuinely interesting and challenging ideas. The changing seasons added to the exploration of the region, and there was just so much creativity and passion in everything.
Of course, this was also the gen where sales dropped off, which probably taught Gamefreak all the wrong lessons about what people wanted in their Pokemon games....
They spent one year making Diamond and Pearl.
They spent THREE years making HeartGold and SoulSilver--and boy, did it show. Still my favorites.
Heartgold and Soulsilver allowed fighting the gym leaders again, with much stronger teams. It did a good job at presenting some challenges, keeping things fresh, even without taking the PvP aspect. It also had the fight against Red, that normally requires a team in the high 60 / low 70 range, at least.
Based chudcel recognizes that Pokémon products have been boring and childish for well over a decade.