By changing the focus of the gameplay to one more focused around catching pokemons and "new" mechanics around these catches I felt they made an step on the right direction. Although it doesn't go as far as I may like it, and feeling that using the setting of the first generation only diminished the opportunities (repeating a bunch of game design decisions like the amount of pokemons or the game progression, or worse and more confusing trying to rework the plot in an awkward way) if Nintendo wishes to decrease the importance of the rpg elements and in turn focus on what made the series special (the collecting aspect) then they seem on the right track.

For a game so highly regarded in general I expected far more. To clarify I wasn't expecting flashy cinematics nor great gameplay (but I sure wished for far less shooting segments) but a good writing with an interesting quest design. I will be honest as my playthrough was a bit rushed due to recommendations from other people the impression I got was that the quest design was absurdly linear and that the writing was more of "what if" for the cool factor than going into specific details about politics/history/warfare and even when there where those few quite intriguing moments of world building they were hardly relevant to the quite traditional plotline. While playing I was going to give it a 2.5/3 but the ION planet not only grabbed my attention and made me exhaust every dialogue option but also made me give a chance to the sequel.

I started having more fun when I stopped seeing the game as a atmospheric and scary game and instead with a more arcade mindset which was bizarre but after seeing how people talk about the game, the trophies and the game modes it kinda fits. Not necessarily bad but doesn't feel right along silent hill, rule of roses or fatal frames which where my references. Kinda surprised the fanbase is divided after RE4 because it just seems as a natural progression to me but I admit im a bit too harsh on this game

This game helped and worsened my depression but at most important it made me feel better at the end
At first it was the only thing that motivated me to get out of bed, to eat and to sleep early so I could play it better the next day. The goals, the music and the gameplay all coincided in a way to make me feel cozy and happy and most importantly not useless. Sadly after that period of lifting me it was hard to fully go into the challenges of real life. I abandoned many of my irl duties because they felt tiring and the only space of comfort I had was this game. The only thing that wasn't enjoyable out of the whole experience was the social dynamics they made me felt empty, so artificial and gamey to a point not even persona reached. And the reason it made me sad was that I came to the game because I struggled with loneliness and losing the few people I felt kind of close but not enough to be friends and seeing how easy it was and how I could become best friends with everyone by just gifting without even bothering to help them or talk with them just...

This was surprisingly a way better experience that expected. The graphic were gorgeous, the story although a bit slow and convoluted at some points (what was that about world peace all about it made 0 sense) felt mostly good and for a pokemon game great, a bunch of other random things like music and atmosphere great too. The gameplay felt way easier specially on the boss fights than the first which even though it felt a bit annoying at points I still prefer over the first one. I know in theory it is a very simple game with not a lot of aspirations but the fact it is so well crafted and enjoyable plus the fact that contrary to the original one revisiting didn't just confirmed my theory that it was good but not that special but instead surpassed my expectations has made me consider it one of my favorite games.

Recently replayed it, im amazed a kid with no understanding of English and if I remember right didn't knew how to open the menus finished this but im glad I replayed nowadays. The story is actually interesting for a pokemon game, a little bit too brief and underdeveloped for my liking but as im seeing the sequel clearly solved that. The gameplay is actually really fun it feels a bit unfair at first but it lets you come with alternative methods to beat the bosses rather than depending on brute force and rng. I had quite a good time but is far from the deep and super long adventure my kid self remembered