Mature Pokemon... please?

[Charninja]

I remember the halcyon days of my youth. I was about, oh, 9 or 10 when I first got into Pokemon, and it has since been nearly a decade. I have grown up. I learned to read on a level greater than Goose Bumps and Animorphs and Harry Potter. I learned to appreciate (though I may not always act like it) things other than pretty explosions and primary colors.

And now, Pokemon is nearly 10 years old. And guess what, if I had a brother, it would still really only appeal to him. I like pokemon, dont get me wrong, and I do look forward to the next few games for the DS and Wii... but, nowhere near as much as I looked forward to Yellow or Gold. I have matured... but Pikachu and friends have not. If anything, by my estimation, they have actually regressed, considering the general ease of Ruby and Saphire and Emerald.

With that said, I would like to ask you, fellow people of t3h int3rn3tz: Would you support a more mature Pokemon game?

Do note I am not suggesting that Pikachu should let loose with an AK-47 or that we can illegally hack the game to see female cooltrainers nude, but rather that we have a game with substance and complexity. A game with a meaningful story and memorable characters that actually develope, on a par with, say, Chrono Trigger/Cross or what have you. The central focus should certainly be catching them all and becoming the best trainer, but I want more to do after catching the games equivalent of Mewtwo or Rayquaza. Battling friends over wi-fi is a very good start, but I want a better reward than a middling berry or a pat on the back. I want to build a meaningful relationship with my pokemon, that determines how well they battle, not unlike what they have in the show.

Frankly, what I want is a game targeted for the first wave of players, the people who remember walking into a game store ten years ago and discovering a little red or blue gem, and not a game for their little brother, or even their children. Is this too much to ask?

[Betelgeux]

honestly that's what i've wanted for a very long time. pokémon to me is much more than a game franchise. i don't really know how to word it, but i'm certain you understand. there's a lot of potential that's not being used.


sadly things will probably not change much. since its debut the general concensus has been that its for little kids. of course the creators don't help it much with a cycled cartoon, cheesy-plot games, and such. i think they're too afraid of putting a mature game up on the market.


i don't doubt it could be done but it would take someone that didn't care about the finances.

[GamesTesterJan]

I think it would be possible to create a good storyline and create an advanced UI and method of training/levelling up and lastly maybe changing the anime style just a little bit to suit an elder target audience.

That could easily be done and they could simply release it as an "Advanced" edition and the easier versions could be "Normal" or "easy", however the franchise is currently only targeting the Hardcore RPGers and younger target audiences and the chances of it changing any time soon are very slim.

There needs to be a demand for a harder and more complex game which better suits a older target audience but sticks to the basic fundaments of the Pokemon RPG games, Want to start a petition? I am almost sure it will be ignored.Jan

[Charninja]

There needs to be a demand for a harder and more complex game which better suits a older target audience but sticks to the basic fundaments of the Pokemon RPG games, Want to start a petition? I am almost sure it will be ignored.Jan

Even if it was started, god knows it wouldnt count for anything. Look at the MMORPG petition.

Still, I just want to recapture the glorious days of my childhood without regressing all the way to pre-school. Is that too much to ask?

[GamesTesterJan]

I would love to see a pokemon game with the same depth and standards as a final fantasy or chrono trigger but i think were going to wait a long time before that happens, unless i develop it...maybe in three years time after i have finished all my studies.Jan

[clown master]

I almost deleted this on site because of the title. lol

Pokémon is kid-targetted, and we, sadly, are in the minority. I do wish they'd do something new story-wise, but until people get tired of it and stop buying their games, nothing's really going to change imo.

[stompatron]

I almost deleted this on site because of the title. lol

Pokémon is kid-targetted, and we, sadly, are in the minority. I do wish they'd do something new story-wise, but until people get tired of it and stop buying their games, nothing's really going to change imo.
Hey! I am only 10, and I support a mature Pokemon. I think that is a GREAT idea. If only so...

[Nirvash]

I miss being 8 :(

[Dr. Blaine]

That's what you inner child is for. If you havn't locked it up and thrown away the key into a pit of rabid dogs.

[GamesTesterJan]

lol, I dont miss anything. I enjoy the current pokemon games but would agree that making them harder or more complexe would be a nice change.Jan

[Nomi_Stryker5]

When I was 8, we didn't have Pokemon. Actually, we didn't even have video games. Everyday, I'd have to walk fifteen miles to the farmhouse to do my chores, and I was lucky if my mother made my food. Most of the time, I would have to fight my dog scruffy for the last bone, lol.

yes. a mature pokemon storyline would be a good improvement. I want a big, final battle, good versus evil. Winner take all.

[Near]

I would have really liked a true story line.

To have some small romance, more interesting storyline [Image the intro to be something like, your father fighting to death against a Rayquaza, and dies, and then you get the traditional 3000$P and the starter Pokemon as heritance, and you want to get revenge on Rayquaza and also making your father's last wish, that you become the best trainer, true]

A bigger story, deaths of people, something sad like your rival sacrificing himself to save you from some attack, and while dying, he/she cries with a smile and admits his love to you and then dies.

Or even better, your rival losing all his/her memories, or being crippeled for life, and you suddenly become some evil psychopath with problems that go to steal other peoples Pokemons/lives..

In short:
- A more complexe and sad, very sad storyline, not the usual robot-like storyline.
- Being able to have a romantic life. I'm not asking for some Dating rpg, but having the basic choices of answering, not always having to say the same thing. For example, having answers of some jerk, or making the rival fall in love with you, and then date him.
- Deaths. Accidents. Something realistic.
- You can choose different paths. Being a Team Rocket leader, a trainer, a Gym leader, a researcher, some evil psychopath that is neither for Rocket or the good guys, and just follows his own path, etc.
- The player being not a 10 years old, for god's sake, but being like 16.
- Etc

[Charninja]

Some of those I agree, like choosing your path and upping the age of the main character, and hey, sure, the whole multiple choice dialogue sequences... however the whole bit about deaths would just turn Pokemon into Final Fantasy with electrified rodents, especially with papa getting killed by Rayquaza or whatever.

[Near]

Some of those I agree, like choosing your path and upping the age of the main character, and hey, sure, the whole multiple choice dialogue sequences... however the whole bit about deaths would just turn Pokemon into Final Fantasy with electrified rodents, especially with papa getting killed by Rayquaza or whatever.
Without deaths it's too much unrealistic.
Yeah maybe dad being murdered by a Pokemon is idiotic, but you need to have some reason for revenge, to make the story twisted.

But hey, who said Pokemon is realistic, anyways?

[Charninja]

Without deaths it's too much unrealistic.
Yeah maybe dad being murdered by a Pokemon is idiotic, but you need to have some reason for revenge, to make the story twisted.

But hey, who said Pokemon is realistic, anyways?

Maybe in your gothy universe, but over in Charninjaland, people don't die nearly so often. It's not sacharine sweet by any means, but it isn't post-apocalyptic emo wrist-cutting either.

[Near]

Maybe in your gothy universe, but over in Charninjaland, people don't die nearly so often. It's not sacharine sweet by any means, but it isn't post-apocalyptic emo wrist-cutting either.
I'm in no way a gothic guy, but it's a fact that people die..

[Charninja]

I'm in no way a gothic guy, but it's a fact that people die..

Well yeah, but there is a line that should not be crossed, and that is doubly true for pokemon. I got nothing against something going berzerk and wiping out a city or a private army or something, but NAMED characters should not be killed unless they are evil. Otherwise it becomes, as I said, Final Fantasy with elctrified rodents.

[Near]

Well yeah, but there is a line that should not be crossed, and that is doubly true for pokemon. I got nothing against something going berzerk and wiping out a city or a private army or something, but NAMED characters should not be killed unless they are evil. Otherwise it becomes, as I said, Final Fantasy with elctrified rodents.
Never bothered with Final Fantasy so I can't really answer.

On another note, I hate how they make the Pokemons basically slaves.

Also, they lack their own thoughts. I mean, the moment you catch that Pokemon, he is your slave and obeys you.

Don't like that.

It would be cool if at some points Pokemons will start attacking towns or something.

[Charninja]

Kinda had that for the gamecube games... but those rather sucked compared to the gameboy titles.

If it brings any solace, they are slaves of love and friendship, not just beat down and worked to death... otherwise there would be pokemon uprisings. It may not seem much like that as far as actual game play goes, but just listening to the NPCs and watching the shows is evidence enough of that. And if you haven't.... well, you really should. May not be the best anime out there, but it at least explains away your issues with the games.

There is at least a little hope though. D/P looks to have a lot more stuff going on than even Ru/Sa/Em, and it's guaranteed that the entries after this will only get better.

[Dr. Blaine]

Also, they lack their own thoughts. I mean, the moment you catch that Pokemon, he is your slave and obeys you.

Unless they don't respect you/have too high a level.

[Near]

Does that show even qualify has an anime..
An anime with 2000 episodes.. yay.

And I find it dumb that a Pokemon that can destroy an entire planet is obeying you simply because you locked it into a ball..

[Charninja]

Does that show even qualify has an anime..
An anime with 2000 episodes.. yay.

And I find it dumb that a Pokemon that can destroy an entire planet is obeying you simply because you locked it into a ball..

Hey man, that ball is the absolute HEIGHT of modern pokeball technology. Don't even need to do anything, just throw and forget. And besides, you still have to EARN the respect of pokemon that are too powerful by winning badges.

Besides, videogames are rife with irregularities. I can cast a spell that summons friggin' METEORS to grind my enemies into the dirt, summon a 10 story tall dragon, and wield a sword that can cut through plate armor like a hot knife through butter... but I can't open a simple wooden door because I don't have the KEY? I can pilot an airship and travel the world, but I can't jump AT ALL? I can defeat the most powerful evil the universe has ever known, but I can't get a friggin' HAIRCUT?

[Radant128]

Hey man, that ball is the absolute HEIGHT of modern pokeball technology. Don't even need to do anything, just throw and forget. And besides, you still have to EARN the respect of pokemon that are too powerful by winning badges.

Besides, videogames are rife with irregularities. I can cast a spell that summons friggin' METEORS to grind my enemies into the dirt, summon a 10 story tall dragon, and wield a sword that can cut through plate armor like a hot knife through butter... but I can't open a simple wooden door because I don't have the KEY? I can pilot an airship and travel the world, but I can't jump AT ALL? I can defeat the most powerful evil the universe has ever known, but I can't get a friggin' HAIRCUT?

As big of a Final Fantasy nerd as I am, I thought that was funny.... :D

[Bibbo]

I remember the halcyon days of my youth. I was about, oh, 9 or 10 when I first got into Pokemon, and it has since been nearly a decade. I have grown up. I learned to read on a level greater than Goose Bumps and Animorphs and Harry Potter. I learned to appreciate (though I may not always act like it) things other than pretty explosions and primary colors.

And now, Pokemon is nearly 10 years old. And guess what, if I had a brother, it would still really only appeal to him. I like pokemon, dont get me wrong, and I do look forward to the next few games for the DS and Wii... but, nowhere near as much as I looked forward to Yellow or Gold. I have matured... but Pikachu and friends have not. If anything, by my estimation, they have actually regressed, considering the general ease of Ruby and Saphire and Emerald.

With that said, I would like to ask you, fellow people of t3h int3rn3tz: Would you support a more mature Pokemon game?

Do note I am not suggesting that Pikachu should let loose with an AK-47 or that we can illegally hack the game to see female cooltrainers nude, but rather that we have a game with substance and complexity. A game with a meaningful story and memorable characters that actually develope, on a par with, say, Chrono Trigger/Cross or what have you. The central focus should certainly be catching them all and becoming the best trainer, but I want more to do after catching the games equivalent of Mewtwo or Rayquaza. Battling friends over wi-fi is a very good start, but I want a better reward than a middling berry or a pat on the back. I want to build a meaningful relationship with my pokemon, that determines how well they battle, not unlike what they have in the show.

Frankly, what I want is a game targeted for the first wave of players, the people who remember walking into a game store ten years ago and discovering a little red or blue gem, and not a game for their little brother, or even their children. Is this too much to ask?
QFT
I have been wanting a mature pokemon game for a long time maybe even a pokemon game where your starter pokemon dies or something something hardhitting and gripping

[crystal]

i wouldn't like my starter pokemon 2 die. but a more mature game would be very good. In final fantasy cos my cousin got me into it a part of it is very sad. somethin grippin in the game would be gd but not too much then its not pokemon. I like most of the ideas.
It be cool if as a trainer u could speak to the pokemon 4 a laugh.

[Miamisportsfan45]

No, I wouldn't support a more mature Pokemon game. That would just be stupid in my opinion.

[Charninja]

No, I wouldn't support a more mature Pokemon game. That would just be stupid in my opinion.

Care to back that up, bucko?

[mefistau]

What would be REALLY awesome is a WOW-like pokemon game. Online! Playing with friends anytime without link! Able to become a Champion that can be challenged YOURSELF! etc.etc...The fact that Diamond/Pearl can be linked throught internet is already a great start really.

[`Phenom]

A cool thing that I thought of would be to replace Secret Bases with a 'Secret Gym' system. Also, when you become a Champion,in-game characters could actually challenge you afterwards, perhaps daily. But first and foremost, a more engaging and complex storyline is needed.

[Powatanner]

What would be REALLY awesome is a WOW-like pokemon game. Online! Playing with friends anytime without link! Able to become a Champion that can be challenged YOURSELF! etc.etc...The fact that Diamond/Pearl can be linked throught internet is already a great start really.I would sereiously like a new more mature Pokemon game as well. I've been thinking of that before Diamond and Pearl came out, and that's what I was hoping for in these games. Where there were no in-game characters, just online players, exactly like WOW. And based on your Trainer Card, the Top 13 Players in the world would be Champion (#1), The Elite Four (#2-5), and Gym Leaders (#6-13) (Of course, these 13 players don't have to sit in Gyms or square rooms all the time). It'd be a little tricky to pull off, but that'd be the best thing ever.
A cool thing that I thought of would be to replace Secret Bases with a 'Secret Gym' system. Also, when you become a Champion,in-game characters could actually challenge you afterwards, perhaps daily. But first and foremost, a more engaging and complex storyline is needed.
If the idea up above from mefistau was impossible, I'd at least like a RPG Game (like Diamond and Pearl) with more extra stuff AFTER you beat the Elite Four, just like Shinobi-sama said. I also would like a more complex and deeper story plot (For Instance: Your Rival teams up with the Enemies *gasp* and steals one of the legendary pokemon *double gasp*

Now, about the More Mature Game: I've thought about this for a long time, and I came up with an idea for it. I'd call it Pokemon Deathmatch (for the Wii), where it'd have the same general and basic skills and story as the old games (minus the "Be Friends with Pokemon!"), but the gameplay is exactly like Soul Calibur and Tekken. You fight using 4 moves that you select would be the best. Each pokemon has their own story (for those who have evolutions, they'd start out at the basic stage first, and evolve at a certain time in the game). Of course, this is just an idea, and it's not a fully-thought out one yet, but I would think It'd make a great game. Whether or not there is blood and gore in the game, I can't decide. I'd play with or without blood if it was real.

[poketo]

They need to add a more complex story mode because it is always the same get all the badges beat e4 then get all _ _ _ pokemon it starts to get boring

[animewolf17]

They need to add a more complex story mode because it is always the same get all the badges beat e4 then get all _ _ _ pokemon it starts to get boring

You forgot the Defeat Team (Blank) and stop them from ruling the world part. I personally thought Diamond was a bit more mature since Cyrus wanted to use Dialga's power to become a god and hasn't seen the error of his ways like Giovanni, Archie, and Maxie.

[Rare_Pokemon]

first of all: it's true that Red/Blue were the hardest. Psychic types reigned high and brock is crazy hard if u picked charmander. me and my friends discussed a pokemon MMO. yeah just like wow. i dont even play mmo's but i'd definitely buy it.

the Monster Rancher series offered a more mature aspect of the monster training genre (albeit not much). you strengened your monster's stats by way of constant physical/mental training. you also got to choose when he/she ate or slept. then you periodically battled in tournaments to try to increase your monster's rank. your monsters could get injured, hurt or lost for a time. then, after (in-game) years of dedication and training, your monster will get old and pass away. lol thinking back, that aspect is a tearjerker. conversely, it didn't have the adventure/RPG aspect of the pokemon games, so what i'm saying is that a mature pokemon game would need a complex and hopefully riveting storyline as well as more true-to-life aspects, akin to Monster Rancher.

....but as epic as Chrono Trigger? lol that's a tall order. get Masato Kato to gamefreak right now!

[poketo]

idk that may get to hard but sonic games did that with the chao and its hard to get a perfect chao let alone a second stage

[Mr.Missingno]

A pokemon MMORPG will be loaded with traffic.Do you know how addicting the game would be?

[poketo]

no why would they try it?

[Mr.Missingno]

Id be in front of my computer for hours on end. I played D/P for 11 hours the first day I had it.

[Jiggy-Ninja]

I want less of a story-line in Pokemon, especially since the DP generation and future ones by extension will have internet capabilities. For me, the story line is just something to get through so that you can do all sorts of other things with the game and more fully explore what it can do. With internet battling and trading, you don't even have to leave your house or know someone near you to experience the multiplayer aspects of Pokemon, and in many games it is the multiplayer aspect, not the story line, that is most fun.

[poketo]

alot of pple might be but if you get caught the jocks and bullies at school will give you a weggie party

[Rare_Pokemon]

I want less of a story-line in Pokemon, especially since the DP generation and future ones by extension will have internet capabilities. For me, the story line is just something to get through so that you can do all sorts of other things with the game and more fully explore what it can do. With internet battling and trading, you don't even have to leave your house or know someone near you to experience the multiplayer aspects of Pokemon, and in many games it is the multiplayer aspect, not the story line, that is most fun.

you're right. didn't think of it that way. i wanted so bad to finish the game so i could get into competitive mode and have all bonus areas open.

[poketo]

The modes are getting longer, and longer, but doesn't that usally gives you most of the stats any way?

[jaws_is_ra]

I say leave the game the way it is sure I would not mind seeing some changes but the mager line of it leave

I would not mind seeing you enter a turny for the final battle not just beat 5 trainer and it is over I say you have to face off aginst 1/2 of the story charcters you meet on your way

I also would not mind it if they would not make it were you have to go to live events for some pokemon I mean come on do they thing ever one is made of money

I say theire should be a download you download to your game that lets you get one event pokemon ever month and make it random so you could end up with the same pokemon

That way these people that go to pokemon usa in NY city can not go around saying look at me i have an orignal mew all you guys got is a clone or coded one

every one would have the same kind

It would also be nice if The main charcter falls in love

and it would also be nice if you could control more then just the main trainer

I like remake Yellow but were you can play as Ash, Brock and misty but you must first beat them for them to join your party


If they changed it compleatly then I would not mind seeing it like the old digimon world games

[Charninja]

I want less of a story-line in Pokemon, especially since the DP generation and future ones by extension will have internet capabilities. For me, the story line is just something to get through so that you can do all sorts of other things with the game and more fully explore what it can do. With internet battling and trading, you don't even have to leave your house or know someone near you to experience the multiplayer aspects of Pokemon, and in many games it is the multiplayer aspect, not the story line, that is most fun.

I'll certainly grant that that is one of the main driving points with D/P. However, I want something to do in the meantime that isn't just drudge work, dealing with NPCs that have only the equivalent education of a 4th grader.

Jesus, this thread is still going? Damn :D

[poketo]

That is why i never talk to NPCs

[joeribs]

LMAO. I once bought a fake pokemon game, that when a trainer lost a battle they went "****" lol. The game itself was actually an amazing fake. Fake pokemon, fake world, fake story line and everything!

[Kasune]

I wouldn't mind a more mature pokemon game. Maybe something along the lines of the Pokemon Special manga.

Maybe the Gym Leaders and Elite Four travel around instead of being stuck in the room, so you have to find them.

Maybe having a new team that is trying to expose the evils of the current pokemon league instead of ruling the world.

A new eevee evolution: Ethereon. How's that for a mature aspect?

(Edit: That's supposed to be ghost type eevee, but I realized it may not be real clear.)

[pokemonking#1]

hmm maybe the ones here with the best ideas need to maybe i dono make everything the send it to the makers of the games so they can look it over?I mean im sure they wouldn't mind help from pokenerds everywhere.


(by pokenerds i do include myself lol)

[Roland]

I don't see how a more mature grown-up version of the game will make catching wild animals and battling them more fun.

Just because you've grown up doesn't mean your child hood has to as well.

Pokemon is for kids, thats its target audience, and back in the day you were part of that target audience, it's great to know you still admire and enjoy it but if it did grow up with you, those memories of what it used to be to you would be gone. Sometimes keeping things simple is the best thing.

Besides Pokemon has never had a solid storyline anyway, it was just used as a motive to let you realise you were progressing through the game, it was no Final Fantasy or Metal Gear and gees who would want it to be?

[Mr_Red_X]

I have to agree with roland. I don't need my pokemon and my metal gear to be intertwined. I have no need for some sort of complex story line.

Now I understand teh target audience is kids, but look at the old pokemon manga. that was really geared for teens...well a few were. I'd like something a bit edgier but not overtly serious. you know like a good manga (naruto, shamn king you get the drift). (wait typing that amkes me kinda not agree with him....wait...maybe?)


I don't some sort of overtly violent game change. just edgier story, better charcters.

[Kasune]

Rethought on what I said previously.

Veto on more mature. Plus on more choice.

Why do you have to go after badges? When they added coordinator as a goal, why do you still have to go after the badges? Why can't you get ribbons? What if you just want to complete the pokedex? Why not make another requirement for being able to control your pokemon as they get stronger. Not going to go into wanting to be a breeder cause I think what they have is already pushing a T rating.

What if I wanted to join Team Rocket when they offered? What if I thought Team Magma or Team Aqua was right. What if I supported Team...I forget the one in D/P...

Still think that Gym Leaders should be able to disappear from time to time and that it wasn't always your proof of progress through the game.

Just..give me more choice on what I can do in the game. Maybe I want to join Team Whatever. Maybe I want to ignore them and let some other bloke save the day.

Also, a ranking system might be neat, if they could figure out how to measure someone's rank(S,A,B,C,D,E,F...not General, seargent, yadayadayada).

I don't need a Final Fantasy storyline. But I'd like to say, "No, I don't need that pokedex" or "Let me join Team Whatzitzname." Instead of, "I have pokemon, fight me!"

[poketo]

Rethought on what I said previously.

Veto on more mature. Plus on more choice.

Why do you have to go after badges? When they added coordinator as a goal, why do you still have to go after the badges? Why can't you get ribbons? What if you just want to complete the pokedex? Why not make another requirement for being able to control your pokemon as they get stronger. Not going to go into wanting to be a breeder cause I think what they have is already pushing a T rating.
For suggestive ideas?
What if I wanted to join Team Rocket when they offered? What if I thought Team Magma or Team Aqua was right. What if I supported Team...I forget the one in D/P...
Galactic >.>;
Yea... you get to be chaced by the police going back to T?
Still think that Gym Leaders should be able to disappear from time to time and that it wasn't always your proof of progress through the game.
That could work but I might have problems with patience meeting up with them anywhere.
Just..give me more choice on what I can do in the game. Maybe I want to join Team Whatever. Maybe I want to ignore them and let some other bloke save the day.
Ignoring them doesn't make you the hero in the game and that is the point of the origional game (plus it was still aiming some what younger audence)
Also, a ranking system might be neat, if they could figure out how to measure someone's rank(S,A,B,C,D,E,F...not General, seargent, yadayadayada).
That would be fun and having some kind of interacting online thing so you can walk and talk to others showing off your rank.
I don't need a Final Fantasy storyline. But I'd like to say, "No, I don't need that pokedex" or "Let me join Team Whatzitzname." Instead of, "I have pokemon, fight me!"
Final note on team... They would probably limit the pokemon on your team.

[Roland]

aahh, so your not after a more mature game, your after more challange and variety, well theres always room for improvment with each generation and they've proven to show that there is much more to do in each game.

I havn't played Pokemon in over 7 years (until recently) and even back in the R/B days I was forever leveling up pokemon which took hours, and back then, that was pretty much all you could do.

But now i'm overwhelemed with the amount of things I have to do each day.
I've been doing the following daily
Looking for swarm pokemon
getting my pokemon messaged
searching for trophy garden pokemon
searching honey tree's
making my pokemon happy
digging for stones
searching for poke-radar pokemon
purchasing ultra balls for the day I finally face Heatran again
Growing berries
Making poffins

Phew thats alot to do everyday and yet this all just the tip of the ice berg, I mean look at all the stuff you can do now!

Daily changing safari game
Breeding
Contests
Battle Tower
Wi-Fi trading
Pal Park
Events
Daily double matches
Shiny collecting
Pokedex filling
Box sorting
Slot machines
And much more

this franchise has come along way from what it used to be and I can only see them improving it as technology advances.

[Kasune]

A more mature game would be nice, but I don't think you can go much higher than fighting a dead Marowak in a graveyard.

Also, there is a lack of challenge. But that could be said of most game series. The technology improves, but the game doesn't really. The fact that I can fly through D/P in a day where it still takes me at least a week to trek through R/B/Y is proof enough for that. The difficulty rating just dropped. So yes, I'm looking for a challenge, but since its an rpg, I'm also looking for a less linear storyline. Noting that I could just as easily go to any other rpg for storyline, but where else can you get a cute little bug to beat up a dragon?

On that note, you're always the hero. It is rare that you ever get to play the villain or even just an average joe. You ARE the hero. In every game you play. After fifteen years of playing video games, I'm ready for a change of pace and pokemon just happens to have the widest chance for variety.

Having to contend with the police wouldn't be oh so bad either. Especially since you'd only have to deal with it in a few places. I don't see why the team would limit how many pokemon you have in your party. It is in their interest to win, isn't it? I think they might limit what types of pokemon are in your party and might even tell you to remove a pokemon from your party if its constantly losing.

Not to knock anything, Roland, but a lot of the stuff you listed is self imposed challenges. For the most part, they don't add challenge to the game, they just make it longer.

[fredisgreat]

Charninja, we all know you want the nude cooltrainers

>_>

[Kaplan]

I feel like the plot of the Pokemon Special Manga is a good balance to appeal the young ones and also the slightly older ones. It's no Death Note, but it's pretty decent.