this is probably one of the most well-crafted Pokemon games and ones I remember quite fondly as a former middle schooler. the game is bursting with new things to do, people to see, and fun around every corner and it's such a nice game to play. I also really liked the Pokeathlon, as unpopular of an opinion that is
that being said, I'll always be disappointed that this game had the opportunity to fix some of the most glaring aspects of Gold and Silver and refused to fix any of it. I loved walking Pokemon as much as anyone else, but not being able to turn them off is an annoyance and I can't believe it took until Sword and Shield's reimplementation for them to implement it as a choice rather than something forced on you (and that game has its own problems with walking Pokemon, but that's its own review)
either way this could've been the best Pokemon games ever if they weren't remaking Johto on the Gen 4 engine with the single worst soundfont and music aesthetic ever, but even with that these are still a really solid set of games. play it.
that being said, I'll always be disappointed that this game had the opportunity to fix some of the most glaring aspects of Gold and Silver and refused to fix any of it. I loved walking Pokemon as much as anyone else, but not being able to turn them off is an annoyance and I can't believe it took until Sword and Shield's reimplementation for them to implement it as a choice rather than something forced on you (and that game has its own problems with walking Pokemon, but that's its own review)
either way this could've been the best Pokemon games ever if they weren't remaking Johto on the Gen 4 engine with the single worst soundfont and music aesthetic ever, but even with that these are still a really solid set of games. play it.