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Since ORAS were announced, there have been several discussions about the idea of re-remaking Generation I, and it seems that many fans agree that a new story would be better than retreating the old one yet again. This is reinforced by Game Freak's decision to re-release the original games for the 20th anniversary.
While Kanto got revisited via the Johto games, it was changed without really being fleshed upon and the experience felt brief, so there is plenty of potential left for sequels focusing on Kanto (not to mention that even HGSS are starting to show their age). In my opinion, the fundamental aspect of a good sequel is its story, which is why I found B2W2 disappointing relative to their predecessors. For some reason, most people seem to think that the story of any region is confined to the associated villainous team, as if Kanto couldn't be revisited without Team Rocket being involved again. I would find it very forced if Team Rocket were resurrected for the second time, and it really shouldn't be that hard to think of a new direction using elements from the original games. Little was done plot-wise with Kanto and Johto legendaries in the original games or remakes, hence the lingering mystery about their exact origin stories and roles in the world.
I was originally in favor of revisiting Kanto (in Generation VII) and Johto (in a later generation) separately since I didn't see a way to flesh out both regions in the same games (GSC and HGSS clearly focused on Johto rather than Kanto), and I didn't want Johto to be tacked onto the post-game. But there are two important factors to bear in mind:
1. Kanto sequels would naturally be compared to HGSS. Many people might feel that even an expanded Kanto falls short of HGSS' map.
2. Generation I Pokémon have already been highlighted in the past generation far more than their Generation II counterparts, despite Kanto itself not being revisited in a modern way. It would arguably feel excessive to focus just on Kanto in the secondary Generation VII versions.
I wouldn't be surprised if GSC were given the VC treatment next year, with Generation II critters being added to Go. In that way, both 2016 and 2017 could lead very nicely to joint Kanto/Johto sequels in early or late 2018. Such games could very well transition Go gamers back to the main series, assuming that those people have fond memories of Kanto and/or Johto.
But how might both regions be treated equally in sequels? The idea is to wrap up both rather than leaving a taste for more, considering the franchise's age and how many other regions there are. It isn't realistic to expect Game Freak to give us two games in a single package, but I have two alternative ideas:
1. The simpler approach: Have the main story take place in half of Kanto and half of Johto, with some new areas behind Mt. Silver. A possible assortment of towns/cities: Viridian, Pewter, Vermilion, Saffron+Celadon, Lavender, Blackthorn, Mahogany, Ecruteak, Violet and Azalea (with 2-3 additions, especially for the beginning). The main journey would work without going through the rest of the regions until the post-game, and the story would capitalize on the contrast between Kanto's metropolitanism (which was even extended to Lavender in GSC) and Johto's traditionalism.
2. The more ambitious approach: Make the main setting of one version Kanto (leaving Johto for the post-game) and switch it around for the second version, resulting in major version differences akin to Fire Emblem Fates. Both versions would show different perspectives of a multi-faceted story converging in the post-game. Like Fire Emblem Fates, DLC might be utilized to unlock the scenario of the opposite version (paying $20 instead of another $40), and either way the non-DLC post-game would explain the main events of both scenarios.
I think that either approach would result in a much more satisfying two-region experience than HGSS provided. The first approach would be easier for Game Freak and cheaper for the players, but it might not fit Game Freak's idea of a regional journey (which isn't necessarily a drawback, as the mixed structure would feel fresh and still capitalize on Kanto and Johto's differences). The second approach would require a longer development cycle, but it would be more lucrative for Game Freak without being unfair to players. Both regions would be explorable in either version without DLC, and those looking for the full story experience still wouldn't need to buy another version.
Which would you prefer?
Clarification: This thread was originally just about Kanto sequels for Generation VII, but it is now about about both Kanto and Johto. The shift in discussion starts from page 14.
While Kanto got revisited via the Johto games, it was changed without really being fleshed upon and the experience felt brief, so there is plenty of potential left for sequels focusing on Kanto (not to mention that even HGSS are starting to show their age). In my opinion, the fundamental aspect of a good sequel is its story, which is why I found B2W2 disappointing relative to their predecessors. For some reason, most people seem to think that the story of any region is confined to the associated villainous team, as if Kanto couldn't be revisited without Team Rocket being involved again. I would find it very forced if Team Rocket were resurrected for the second time, and it really shouldn't be that hard to think of a new direction using elements from the original games. Little was done plot-wise with Kanto and Johto legendaries in the original games or remakes, hence the lingering mystery about their exact origin stories and roles in the world.
I was originally in favor of revisiting Kanto (in Generation VII) and Johto (in a later generation) separately since I didn't see a way to flesh out both regions in the same games (GSC and HGSS clearly focused on Johto rather than Kanto), and I didn't want Johto to be tacked onto the post-game. But there are two important factors to bear in mind:
1. Kanto sequels would naturally be compared to HGSS. Many people might feel that even an expanded Kanto falls short of HGSS' map.
2. Generation I Pokémon have already been highlighted in the past generation far more than their Generation II counterparts, despite Kanto itself not being revisited in a modern way. It would arguably feel excessive to focus just on Kanto in the secondary Generation VII versions.
I wouldn't be surprised if GSC were given the VC treatment next year, with Generation II critters being added to Go. In that way, both 2016 and 2017 could lead very nicely to joint Kanto/Johto sequels in early or late 2018. Such games could very well transition Go gamers back to the main series, assuming that those people have fond memories of Kanto and/or Johto.
But how might both regions be treated equally in sequels? The idea is to wrap up both rather than leaving a taste for more, considering the franchise's age and how many other regions there are. It isn't realistic to expect Game Freak to give us two games in a single package, but I have two alternative ideas:
1. The simpler approach: Have the main story take place in half of Kanto and half of Johto, with some new areas behind Mt. Silver. A possible assortment of towns/cities: Viridian, Pewter, Vermilion, Saffron+Celadon, Lavender, Blackthorn, Mahogany, Ecruteak, Violet and Azalea (with 2-3 additions, especially for the beginning). The main journey would work without going through the rest of the regions until the post-game, and the story would capitalize on the contrast between Kanto's metropolitanism (which was even extended to Lavender in GSC) and Johto's traditionalism.
2. The more ambitious approach: Make the main setting of one version Kanto (leaving Johto for the post-game) and switch it around for the second version, resulting in major version differences akin to Fire Emblem Fates. Both versions would show different perspectives of a multi-faceted story converging in the post-game. Like Fire Emblem Fates, DLC might be utilized to unlock the scenario of the opposite version (paying $20 instead of another $40), and either way the non-DLC post-game would explain the main events of both scenarios.
I think that either approach would result in a much more satisfying two-region experience than HGSS provided. The first approach would be easier for Game Freak and cheaper for the players, but it might not fit Game Freak's idea of a regional journey (which isn't necessarily a drawback, as the mixed structure would feel fresh and still capitalize on Kanto and Johto's differences). The second approach would require a longer development cycle, but it would be more lucrative for Game Freak without being unfair to players. Both regions would be explorable in either version without DLC, and those looking for the full story experience still wouldn't need to buy another version.
Which would you prefer?
Clarification: This thread was originally just about Kanto sequels for Generation VII, but it is now about about both Kanto and Johto. The shift in discussion starts from page 14.
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