Mastodawn

Ishambard Jul 21, 2025

I think part of the reason why #Pokemon Gen 2 has such a lasting legacy is because it created this sense of world that I can't think of being matched.

Pokemon has had a habit of name dropping other regions in games, NPCs in Kalos saying they are visiting from Hoenn, etc

It's one thing to get these cute little nods, but Gen 2 went a step further, which sure we could chalk up to nostalgia maxing fan service, being able to explore a mostly like for like recreation of the Kanto region.

But it also helps create this congruous world. You are not just exploring a region, you are exploring the world of Pokemon. Even if Johto is just one short surf route away from Kanto.

Besides the surf route, there is also the ship between Olivine and Vermillion and the Magnet Train between Goldenrod and Saffron. It's all world building that makes the two regions feel like a complete unit.

Was this a thinly veiled ramble to justify a Magnet Rail screenshot? I mean... Partially...

#PokemonSilver

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Undead Zeratul Jul 21, 2025

@ishambard and they can't even give us the full Pokédex anymore, let alone a consistent world to explore.

Could you imagine a fully fleshed out world on one platform to be able to go out and explore? Going from region to region like how we have local vs regional vs state vs national competitions?

I would absolutely play an honest pokéMMO

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Ishambard

@Undead_Zeratul

I love the concept of a Pokemon MMO, I would be worried about balance as you progress up the tiers. Local, regional, etc.

I suppose one approach would be level locking or some kind of limiting factor, which you can frame like the cups on Pokemon stadium. So, like, only unevolved pokemon below a certain level range.

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Undead Zeratul Jul 21, 2025

@ishambard that or each region has their own equivalent badges that each person would start from, and would act mostly for flavor. Beating all gyms in your starting area allows you entry into the national level where you compete across regions, akin to the actual Elite 4. Hell, maybe the Elite 4 IS the national gym at the endgame of it all. Beating them grants access to other regions to catch other pokemon? Maybe it's more like the traded Pokémon mechanic where catching Pokémon from another region won't obey you until you gain their regional badge since that's what they come to know and understand. That would give reason for players to explore and defeat other gyms, although there would need to be a way to prevent steamrolling gyms with your level 75 Typhlosion