10 Best Things to Happen in the Pokémon Series

The series has been consistently releasing new games since 1996. It’s improved significantly from the early days of Red and Blue, which had many bugs but also creative solutions to fit within the limited space of a Game Boy cartridge. With each new release, the games introduce fresh elements, and typically include competitive adjustments and improvements to make gameplay more enjoyable.

As a longtime fan, I’ve seen The Pokémon Company try so many different things over the last 30 years! Some tweaks were small and didn’t really matter, others totally flopped, but the really good ones actually made the games even better. I still know plenty of people who miss how things used to be in the early days of Pokémon, but it’s tough to argue that certain changes haven’t been a positive thing for the series overall.

The Special/Physical Split Made More Pokémon Viable

Prior to the fourth generation of Pokémon games, move categories weren’t based on how the move *looked* in battle, but on its type. For example, if a Biting move was a Dark-type move, it would be categorized as Special. Conversely, an energy beam attack could be Physical if its type was Physical. Notably, all Grass-type moves were Special, and all Ghost-type moves were Physical, no matter what they did during battle.

The way moves were categorized was initially confusing and negatively impacted some Pokémon. Flareon, for instance, had a strong Physical Attack stat, but most powerful Fire-type moves were categorized as Special, preventing it from effectively utilizing its Same-Type Attack Bonus. The change in Generation 4, which separated a move’s category from its type, immediately allowed several Pokémon to perform roles they previously couldn’t.

Mega Evolution Was Pokémon’s Flashiest Battle Gimmick

Starting with Generation 3, each new Pokémon generation has included new battle mechanics, like double battles and weather effects. However, none of these additions have been quite as visually impressive as Mega Evolution, which debuted in Generation 6. Mega Evolution in Gen 6 continues to stand out because it significantly boosted the power of existing Pokémon and introduced a strategic layer to team composition – players had to consider the tradeoff of using a held item for a Mega Stone.

Many new features have been introduced over the years, but Mega Evolution remains the most well-received, and it’s not hard to understand why. The concept of giving Pokémon a powerful, temporary transformation naturally complements how the games already work. The Pokémon Company clearly understands this appeal, as they’ve heavily invested in bringing it back across all platforms – the core video games, the Trading Card Game, and even in merchandise. Mega Evolution will even be a central part of the upcoming Pokémon World Championships, integrated into Pokémon Champions.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus Was A Breath Of Fresh Air

Pokémon games generally follow a predictable pattern. While this isn’t necessarily negative – it makes the games accessible and easy to pick up – it can become repetitive for players who have been with the series for a long time. When the main series has tried to innovate, such as with Black & White’s completely redesigned Pokédex or the Island Trials in the Alola region, the results have been met with mixed or negative reactions. For a period, it seemed like the series was stuck in a pattern.

So, out of nowhere, Game Freak dropped a huge announcement: a brand new game called Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It was a total shake-up, taking place way back in the past, and they completely changed how the game world was designed. Instead of just battling, the focus was much more on action. Legends: Arceus really got everyone hyped, and honestly, it delivered! The story was great, and the gameplay was a blast. Plus, it’s still the only main Pokémon game where you can *actually* complete the Pokédex without trading or needing another game to do it.

Eviolite Is One Of Pokémon Best Held Items

The introduction of the Eviolite in Generation V significantly impacted the Pokémon competitive scene. This item increases the Defense and Special Defense of Pokémon that haven’t reached their final evolution, making them surprisingly durable. Following its release, several partially evolved Pokémon – like Dusclops, Chansey, and Porygon2 – found a specific role in battle, and some even became more effective than their evolved forms.

It also meant that when a Pokémon evolved, the previous form became more useful. Because so many Pokémon were now viable options, they received more fan attention. Many Pokémon finally received the recognition they deserved, largely thanks to the item Eviolite.

GTS Is A Lifesaver For Pokédex Completion

The Global Trade System, or GTS, became available when Pokémon games gained internet connectivity. In short, it allows players to put a Pokémon up for trade or ask for a specific one, and trainers worldwide can fulfill the exchange. This significantly simplified obtaining Pokémon that weren’t normally found in a particular game and provided players with simple access to Pokémon from other regions.

Most Pokémon games feature certain Pokémon that you can only get in that specific game, and some, like the starter Pokémon, require you to choose just one. The Global Trade System (GTS) used to let players trade with others to get all the Pokémon they needed without buying another game. It was a great way to complete the Pokédex all within the game itself. It’s disappointing, then, that the GTS is now part of the Pokémon HOME mobile app. Now, players who want a particular Pokémon have to pay for the service, and it makes finishing the Pokédex more difficult, especially for younger fans.

Overworld Encounters Make Pokémon Feel More Alive

For many years, Pokémon games featured random encounters where Pokémon would suddenly appear while you were exploring. However, beginning with Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee in Generation VII, the games shifted to overworld encounters, which have become the standard. This new system allows players to see Pokémon directly in the game world, making it easier to find and battle multiple Pokémon. It’s an improvement over the old method of walking through rustling grass, initiating an encounter, potentially running away if it wasn’t the Pokémon you wanted, and repeating the process.

The game also allows Pokémon to show more of their individual personalities. For example, some Pokémon, like Combee in Scarlet & Violet, will flee from players, while others, such as Sharpedo in Sword & Shield, are more confrontational and will actively pursue them. You might even stumble upon a Snorlax sleeping near a cave or see Pokémon enjoying a snack of berries – it’s those little details that really add to the experience. Hopefully, we’ll see even more detailed animations in future games, as they’re a great way to bring the Pokémon world to life.

Character Customization Makes Pokémon More Fun

Pokémon characters you play as have traditionally felt like stand-ins for *you*, rather than fully developed individuals. But it wasn’t until the 6th generation of games that players could actually personalize their trainer’s appearance – things like skin color, hair style, and clothing. This added a fun element of exploring new areas and trying out different clothes and accessories.

The series has varied over time in how much you can customize your character, with some games offering more options than others. However, it’s always good to be able to create a unique trainer, and Legends: Z-A appears ready to significantly improve character customization.

Regional Variants Added Depth to the Pokédex

Regional Pokémon forms, initially appearing in the Alola games, have been a great addition to the series. Previously, Pokémon could only receive new evolutions or pre-evolutions, which restricted possibilities for storytelling and design. These regional variations allow Game Freak to creatively adapt Pokémon to suit specific regions, such as Galarian Corsola, whose design is inspired by bleached coral.

It’s great that this allows older Pokémon to be featured again without making the game unbalanced by drastically altering their stats or moves, and it’s enjoyable to see them receive updated designs or new evolutionary paths. Regional forms strike a perfect balance-they give Pokémon a chance to stand out more, and they fit so well into the world that it feels strange they aren’t included in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

Shiny Pokémon Are Perfect For Post-Game

After finishing a Pokémon game, players don’t have many options. They can visit post-game battle facilities or rematch trainers they’ve already faced, but these activities aren’t appealing to everyone. Completing the Pokédex is another possibility, but it usually requires a guide or a second gaming system. Competitive battling is also an option, though it demands additional resources and a significant time commitment.

Then there’s shiny hunting. It can take a lot of time, but it’s really rewarding when you finally see those sparkles and catch a rare Pokémon. It’s a fantastic thing to do after you finish the main game, and it lets you get Pokémon with awesome alternate colors – for example, a Wooloo can become a black sheep, or Umbreon can have blue added to its usual colors. It’s a fun challenge!

Removing The National Dex Was Controversial, But For The Best

Although controversial, the decision to limit Pokémon transfers into Pokémon Sword and Shield by excluding the National Dex was ultimately a good one for the series. With more than 1,000 Pokémon available-many of which are rare or require transfers across several game generations-it was becoming unreasonable to expect players to bring them all into the game just to complete the Pokédex.

Having a smaller regional Pokédex makes seeing older Pokémon again really fun, as it’s been a while since some of them appeared. It also keeps the competitive scene fresh, because players can’t just use the same teams they always have. The games have found a good balance by letting players transfer Pokémon from the DLC into the main games without needing to buy the DLC, and some legendary Pokémon are present in the game world but can’t be caught.

2025-10-05 06:53