4. The Game Has No Longevity
This might come a little prematurely, as we haven't heard a lot of definate news, but there is word on the sequel to Pokémon Red and Blue being worked on in Japan. What is concerning, however, is news that the sequel (or sequels, if that adopt a duel-game release again) may simply be an expansion to the original games. This is after Japan having already released Pokémon Yellow, a version of Red and Blue with only slightly changed artwork during the battles and an animated Pikachu following you during your travels. They even took away the choice of starter Pokémon at the start of the game and you are
forced to accept Pikachu. I understand that Pokémon Yellow is essentially an expansion to the originals, so maybe not a lot of things should've changed, but we can't have the next games adopt the same strategy. There needs to be change, whether that be a different quest, changing the battle system or doing something new with the core idea of capturing monsters. Word is that if development on the new games, which aim to be released in Japan next year, goes well enough, they could expand it to become essentially its own game rather than just an expansion. Let's hope that if this happens, they also make larger changes to the core game mechanics. There's only so many times we can take playing the same game.