LogFAQs > #947479996

I think the lack of meaningful postgame content in later installments is the real kicker. They had such a good thing going with the Battle Frontier, and then dropped it because they (SpongeBob voice) don't FeEeEeEl like it.

In general, that kind of complacency is a huge problem for the series. As Zen noted, the Pokemon formula is so uniquely strong and addictive that a truly bad mainline Pokemon game can't exist unless it's actually broken or something. Game Freak has realized this for years and sees it as their ticket to "being above" things like effort and adaptation to the modern video game zeitgeist. Nonetheless, things like the dreadful graphics of Gen 8 and the terrible storylines could more readily be laughed off as "quaint" if they got their postgame act together again.

Some other things:

-The online experiences are deeply flawed. Gen 8 has this ridiculous "stamp system" for joining online activities that I seriously can't believe exists in a current-gen game.
-The GBA titles had dreadful music. Those dinky-ass trumpets, I swear...
-A refusal to commit to new features. Many compelling features like the Pokeathlon (HeartGold/SoulSilver) or the underground (Diamond/Pearl) are unceremoniously dropped after one installment. I think the intent is to keep each generation "unique" and therefore safe from total obsolescence, but really, it just feels needlessly regressive.
-This isn't really the fault of the developers, but man oh man do the "competitive players" tend to be fucking insufferable.

---

The music was thud-like.
The music was... thud-like.