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

Show thread

YourWishes Jul 22, 2025

@ishambard Dunno how to describe it either but there was "stuff that happened" during the game. Modern Pokemon feels a bit like, rock up at a town, read a cutscene, then fight the gym.

Gen2 had the slowpoke tails, the lighthouse and the medicine, the kimono girls, lake of rage, the underground, and that's just what I can think off the top of my head.

Gen4 had this a bit too and I think it did help build the world in that gen too.

Show thread

YourWishes

@ishambard In addition there was like stuff you could miss, or at least felt like there was always more to see. All the unknown ruins stuff, the Ilex Forest, the Whirlpool Islands, and then all the stuff over in Kanto. if you had played Gen1 it was basically like "oh the cool secrets from Gen1 may still be there, or maybe different?" like the Power plant, the seafoam islands, and, of course, the mewtwo cave housing Red as a final battle was like icing on the cake