Why Are The Generation 1 Fans the Biggest Complainers About Each New Pokemon Generation?

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Why Are Ninety Percent of All People Making Unfounded Statements and Lumping Together Entire Demographics Into One Stereotype?

I don't believe that people legitimately hate the later generations while loving the first generation, because they are, really, the same games. Maybe they don't like the design choices made, or that Pokemon hasn't gotten any more advanced than a plot for eight year olds, or that Nintendo is supposedly milking Pokemon's rather archaic format, but it really is just the same game.

 

[Mr.Cynic88]

People love to be nostalgic. I played Blue as a kid, and to me, that will always be Pokemon. I still remember my final battle against the elite four (Zapados was my MVP) and I remember getting mad at Gold and Silver for changing up the Pokemon. Blue and Red was MY generation, and I haven't played any of the subsequent generations.

Still, I think it's clear to me that as games each new pokemon generation has improved the gameplay. It seems that the newer generations are better games, they just aren't MINE.

 

[Dragonbums]

Was a fan of generation 1 but haven't really liked any generation after, likely in large part since I've not taken any effort to look into them.

What I've seen of them though I don't really like quite as much as the first gen. The first generation generally all are very simple Pokemon. They take directly after an animal or object and they make a certain kind of direct sense.

Squirtle is a turtle and turtles live in water so he's a water-type.
Charizard is a dragon and dragons breathe fire so he's a fire-type.
Magnemite is a magnet and those have to do with electricity so he's an electric-type.

I'm well aware that there's exceptions to this, even in generation 1, but for the most part it seems to be there. You can take one look at a Pokemon and for the most part instantly make out what real-life thing it resembles, what it's type is and what it's likely strengths and weaknesses are.

From what little I've seen of later generations this is kinda lost. I can't really make out what they're supposed to resemble, what type they're supposed to be and what likely strengths and weaknesses they have.

Again, I must stress that I've very little with later generations so I could be wrong. But judging by the two pictures just above it seems about right.

I mean the top seems to be a leech-fish thing with arms, probably water? But looks like it'd have some sort of secondary type I honestly can't make out.

The other is a snake-bird thing? Flying most likely? And poison secondary? Or maybe flying secondary to something else?

There have been more obvious Pokemon in the previous generations. For instance Stunky and Skuntank are clearly Skunks.
As for Electross it's inspired by a not well known eel. Vicious creatures. They live on the riverbeds and have a circular mouth.
In the most recent generation they had ant Pokemon and Anteater Pokemon, a flying squirrel Pokemon, and a Crocodile( or alligator) pokemon.

The others are inspired by mythological artifacts and creatures. Most from Japan. Others from ancient ruins. Chandelure for instance appears to us as a simple Chandelier Pokemon. However it is in fact a combination of Chandeliers and the ghost myth in Japan where souls that don't really move that turn into balls of flame.(Japanese version of Will-o-wisps )

As for the snake bird I think you mean Archeops. It's supposed to be based off the prehistoric bird Pokemon that has feathers but still retain it's dinosaur like features. It's a rock and flying type.

I guess as they start to run out of using the most obvious Pokemon as inspiration, they are starting to cover grounds on more common ones, and delve deeper into the less known ones.
You gotta thank the staff at Bulbapedia for putting that much effort into finding out their root inspiration. For I agree, there are some Pokemon where I really don't know what they are based off of until I look up their page.

 

[Doom972]

I only like the first two generations. After that it seems that Gamefreak lost all creativity. I tried getting into the third generation games but most the new pokemon seem like slightly altered version of pokemon that already exist (how many bird pokemon do we really need?).
If they had just added no more than 8 pokemon in each generation after the second, this might've worked for me.
I don't complain about it though, I just stopped playing new Pokemon games.

 

[Dragonbums]

I was a Generation One fan and while I don't detest generation 2-5, it wasn't what I came in at. Looking at it from my own perspective (that being my opinion, not saying I'm right or wrong here), when Pokemon first appeared, it was something new and awesome.

There were 150 Pokemon, plus one mystery Pokemon (Mew)that added a little extra mystery/flair to the game. Plus, when the first games came out, the Pokemon TV show was brand new and it brought extra character to all of the extra critters that would otherwise be just pixels on a screen. For a lot of first generation fans, this was something new, especially for a western audience. When generation two and three came out, it felt less important. We already know these 150, why do we need to have more? Further, now that there were all of these new animals we never heard of before and new legendary Pokemon, the previous Legendaries and the previous mystery Pokemon lost a lot of its luster, and a lot of Gen-1 fans took it personally.

Further, with generation one, there was the set of rules you had to adhere to (Electricity beats Water, Water beats Fire, etc.) There IS that set of rules still of course, but it had grown and expanded to include different Pokemon types and for a lot of generation One fans, that killed the fun because, in our minds, they weren't just altering the rules, but throwing them all out and making us have to learn something else.

So, without going on forever, it is essentially the usual rote of "I was here first, how dare you change things on me!" kind of mentality.

Pokemon does have a huge competitive fanbase that revolve around EVs and IVs, and which Pokemon that are defeated will give you a specific EV stat.
That being said, I believe the Dark and Steel types were added because certain Pokemon at the time were just simply too overpowered and flipped the balance off too much.

For instance, Alakazam I believe as of Generation 1 were the only Psychic Pokemon out there, and it was IMMENSELY powerful. It's only weakness was bug, and the only bug move at that time was twin needle....which is a very shitty move. So they added the dark type Pokemon to counter this.
The steel type was also introduced to provide as an effective counter to psychic Pokemon and Dragon type Pokemon. While Dragon types only had advantages against themselves the moves tend to be extremely powerful and nothing but the hardiest defense wall could really withstand any of those attacks for more than two turns at least.

 

[PoolCleaningRobot]

Its just one of those bullshit things people do. Bragging because they were born in the time they were. Its really stupid when you think about it.
"When I was a kid, Pokemon were so much more original!"
"When I was a kid, video games were actually hard!"
"When I was a kid, we didn't have the Internet and video games so we went outside and played!"

Its like a never ending cycle of stupidity

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

As far as I can see, almost EVERY fandom has that segment of fans who ONLY like the original incarnation, and scoff at anything new.

Transformers has it's own "Geewunners".
Power Rangers fans who won't touch anything not Mighty Morphin.
Star Wars fans who hate the prequel trilogy (although there is a bit of justification to this one)
Star Trek fans who only like the original series/Next Generation.
Sonic fans who ONLY like Genesis games.

Weirdly, Bronies have an odd, reverse "genwunner"-ism, and generally look down at anything that came BEFORE Friendship is Magic.

In the end, it really has less to do with the overall quality of any given Pokemon generation (since I personally think that the basic quality of all 5 gens are more or less comparable), and more to do with the close-mindedness of the individual in question.

While obviously you can't expect anyone to like EVERY single Pokemon design, and there may even be generations with far more designs that you personally detest, I think it's a mistake to write of any generation simply on principle.

In summary:

They grew up with it, therefore it is the best. And no, the pokemon aren't getting stupider in design. Generation 1 had a woman in black face as a pokemon.

 

[xaszatm]

Well, as a Gen 1 person, I guess my friends and I break the mold as my favorite is Diamond and Pearl. Most of my friends were Gen 1 Pokemon players yet we are all excited for X and Y. Maybe it's nostalgia and the fact that Gen 1 players are no longer the target audience? I mean, in comparison to most other Nintendo franchises, Pokemon doesn't grow up with the gamer and instead focuses on a set age. So when those people grow older and interests change, the game doesn't go in the same direction causing a disconnect.

 

[CrimsonBlaze]

In regards to the Gen 1 players, I'm not entirely sure what their beef is. I just assume that these players wanted to keep the 151 original Pokemon and capture them again in a new region (presented in each proceeding Gen). Since they can't always do that (especially in Gen 5), then they feel that they will not enjoy the game as much.

These gamers who say that they quit after Gen 2 have clearly not played Gen 2, as there is an abundance of new content and features that clearly separates itself from Gen 1. If they did, they probably didn't like the content and features and just quit then and there.

I've been playing every since Gen 1 and there are a lot of reasons why I hold one generation in high regard (Gen 2) over another (Gen 5). If you truly enjoy Pokemon, you'll be critical and not cynical about why you dislike this Gen over that Gen and if you didn't enjoy one, move along to the next one (Gen 6, which I can't wait for).

 

[Ryotknife]

I was a Generation One fan and while I don't detest generation 2-5, it wasn't what I came in at. Looking at it from my own perspective (that being my opinion, not saying I'm right or wrong here), when Pokemon first appeared, it was something new and awesome.

There were 150 Pokemon, plus one mystery Pokemon (Mew)that added a little extra mystery/flair to the game. Plus, when the first games came out, the Pokemon TV show was brand new and it brought extra character to all of the extra critters that would otherwise be just pixels on a screen. For a lot of first generation fans, this was something new, especially for a western audience. When generation two and three came out, it felt less important. We already know these 150, why do we need to have more? Further, now that there were all of these new animals we never heard of before and new legendary Pokemon, the previous Legendaries and the previous mystery Pokemon lost a lot of its luster, and a lot of Gen-1 fans took it personally.

Further, with generation one, there was the set of rules you had to adhere to (Electricity beats Water, Water beats Fire, etc.) There IS that set of rules still of course, but it had grown and expanded to include different Pokemon types and for a lot of generation One fans, that killed the fun because, in our minds, they weren't just altering the rules, but throwing them all out and making us have to learn something else.

So, without going on forever, it is essentially the usual rote of "I was here first, how dare you change things on me!" kind of mentality.

Pokemon does have a huge competitive fanbase that revolve around EVs and IVs, and which Pokemon that are defeated will give you a specific EV stat.
That being said, I believe the Dark and Steel types were added because certain Pokemon at the time were just simply too overpowered and flipped the balance off too much.

For instance, Alakazam I believe as of Generation 1 were the only Psychic Pokemon out there, and it was IMMENSELY powerful. It's only weakness was bug, and the only bug move at that time was twin needle....which is a very shitty move. So they added the dark type Pokemon to counter this.
The steel type was also introduced to provide as an effective counter to psychic Pokemon and Dragon type Pokemon. While Dragon types only had advantages against themselves the moves tend to be extremely powerful and nothing but the hardiest defense wall could really withstand any of those attacks for more than two turns at least.

I could swear there was more than one psychic.

(goes on google)

yea here we go:
mr mime
jinx
hypno
mewtwo
slowbro

 

[Dragonbums]

I was a Generation One fan and while I don't detest generation 2-5, it wasn't what I came in at. Looking at it from my own perspective (that being my opinion, not saying I'm right or wrong here), when Pokemon first appeared, it was something new and awesome.

There were 150 Pokemon, plus one mystery Pokemon (Mew)that added a little extra mystery/flair to the game. Plus, when the first games came out, the Pokemon TV show was brand new and it brought extra character to all of the extra critters that would otherwise be just pixels on a screen. For a lot of first generation fans, this was something new, especially for a western audience. When generation two and three came out, it felt less important. We already know these 150, why do we need to have more? Further, now that there were all of these new animals we never heard of before and new legendary Pokemon, the previous Legendaries and the previous mystery Pokemon lost a lot of its luster, and a lot of Gen-1 fans took it personally.

Further, with generation one, there was the set of rules you had to adhere to (Electricity beats Water, Water beats Fire, etc.) There IS that set of rules still of course, but it had grown and expanded to include different Pokemon types and for a lot of generation One fans, that killed the fun because, in our minds, they weren't just altering the rules, but throwing them all out and making us have to learn something else.

So, without going on forever, it is essentially the usual rote of "I was here first, how dare you change things on me!" kind of mentality.

Pokemon does have a huge competitive fanbase that revolve around EVs and IVs, and which Pokemon that are defeated will give you a specific EV stat.
That being said, I believe the Dark and Steel types were added because certain Pokemon at the time were just simply too overpowered and flipped the balance off too much.

For instance, Alakazam I believe as of Generation 1 were the only Psychic Pokemon out there, and it was IMMENSELY powerful. It's only weakness was bug, and the only bug move at that time was twin needle....which is a very shitty move. So they added the dark type Pokemon to counter this.
The steel type was also introduced to provide as an effective counter to psychic Pokemon and Dragon type Pokemon. While Dragon types only had advantages against themselves the moves tend to be extremely powerful and nothing but the hardiest defense wall could really withstand any of those attacks for more than two turns at least.

I could swear there was more than one psychic.

(goes on google)

yea here we go:
mr mime
jinx
hypno
mewtwo
slowbro

Pardon me on that then. I tend to mix up 1st and 2nd gen together. I was really young at the time.

 

[Dragonbums]

Well, as a Gen 1 person, I guess my friends and I break the mold as my favorite is Diamond and Pearl. Most of my friends were Gen 1 Pokemon players yet we are all excited for X and Y. Maybe it's nostalgia and the fact that Gen 1 players are no longer the target audience? I mean, in comparison to most other Nintendo franchises, Pokemon doesn't grow up with the gamer and instead focuses on a set age. So when those people grow older and interests change, the game doesn't go in the same direction causing a disconnect.

I never saw Pokemon as a franchise that was going to grow up with it's fanbase. The kids of today will cherish Pokemon as we did in the past. Only with more Pokemon to boot.
They never changed their target audience. The old audience just demands that it grows up with them. Kind of like the sentiment Nintendo has for many fans today.

As a person growing up with Generation 1, I happen to absolutely adore Generation 5. Ask me what my favorite Pokemon of that Gen is, and I'd be torn between 10 Pokemon. On that note I too am excited for X and Y. Finally there is customization of your character like skin tones. (Now if they can put that into Animal Crossing...)
However I bring this topic up because the amount of complaining for this new gen 6, is much less than gen 5

 

[Frotality]

i dont know where you get your info about what gen 1 players still play or dont, but w/e. we're probably the biggest complainers because we have the largest pokedex full of samey, repetitive pointlessness. now keep in mind it wasnt until black & white that i was well and truly bored of the series, but its done the same thing with the same number of towns and same gyms, same caves and seas full of pretty much the same swarm of the same kinds of pokemon, all leading up to the fight with the same elite four and then off to capture the same 3 legendaries and the rest of the same 151 monsters you got last gen. its really quite amazing how they managed to keep me interested in what was basically the same game for so long, so i have no ill will, but come on... whats the damn point anymore? i spent more time than i ever shouldve catching the original 151, and all the new games seem to do is complicate that further with pokemon you can only get from one-day events in japan. ive no interest in multiplayer and the already easy single player fights have just gotten easier and easier.

gold was my favorite when i was a kid, probably because it felt like an actual sequel with new pokemon types and new ways to get legendaries that sadly became a boring routine in later gens, and an awesome twist fight with kanto's champion. after that the games did less and less to stand out, just rehashing the same conventions with hilarious detail (you always pick a water,fire,or grass, there is always a tree to cut blocking your way, there is always a cave full of some annoying pokemon right after, there is always a bike road...) part of that is just the reality that inventing another 151 creatures every gen is going to blur together no matter how creative you are, but most of it is just a stubborn refusal to change ANYTHING at all of the tried and true formula. the series needs to stop making 151 mutant bastard children of pikachu every gen and start working a different structure, and some major changes to the battle system couldnt hurt either.

 

[Samurai Silhouette]

It's kinda like how people say that today's TV programing is crap. Because it is. Less imagination and more money making swill just to get a product out to the audience.

 

[Lilani]

It's all just elitism and trying to pull rank on younger fans. The genwunners didn't really become a thing until at least gen 3 or 4. Because let's be honest, here: When they announced Johto and 150 new Pokemon, Gold and Silver couldn't come out soon enough. Every single Pokemon fan flipped their shit and would have given their right arm to see the new Pokemon and new region.

It's kinda like how people say that today's TV programing is crap. Because it is. Less imagination and more money making swill just to get a product out to the audience.

TV has always been like that, you're just old enough to notice it now. Sitcoms from the 50s to the 70s were just advertisements for the white, middle-class, nuclear, consumerist family. Stuff for housewives to watch to make them want to shop at Macy's and keep up on the latest kitchen appliances. Cartoons before the 80s were all about getting kids to watch TV and bother their parents about buying toys and collectables and cereals and such. Cartoons after the 80s were specifically after selling toy lines and franchises.

Do you even know where Soap Operas got their names? Because their original purpose was to sell soap to listeners. In the early days of TV and Radio outright advertising wasn't allowed, though it still provided the income for TV and Radio stations. They just had to work it into stories which were paid for by the product's companies. So they made shitty-ass stories with horrendous actors on obscenely small budgets which were designed to create situations where they could use and name the product. So naturally a company looking to advertise soap would need lots of baths and showers, thus the bedroom drama that still defines soap operas today.

 

[Racecarlock]

My main gripes are with the show, never had the game.

Trash type pokemon are stupid though. I mean, how does trash harbor life? Sure, fire isn't alive either, but fire is cool. Trash is something you take to the sidewalk and dump. That's not cool at all.

How many times has ash saved the world now? Just give him a master medal and then start a new game already.

But my worst gripe is how the theme has devolved. I mean, the first theme is great. You can tell that the band really wanted to make it come across that this is an epic journey and a determined protagonist.

The latest one is all like "Yeah, friendship, unity, destiney, hard work, blah blah blah" being played by a band that sounds like it's falling asleep as they choke out the lyrics.

Another thing on the evolution. I understand how fighting types appear because nature is rough and you need to be rough to fight it, but how the hell did evolution get so specific that it started making judo and karate and aikido type pokemon? Those are human fighting styles. What, did the labs create them? I would be totally fine with the excuse that labs created them. But natural evolution? Sorry, even my monumental capacity to suspend my disbelief runs out sooner or later, and judo type pokemon is where it runs dry.

 

[Dragonbums]

My main gripes are with the show, never had the game.

Trash type pokemon are stupid though. I mean, how does trash harbor life? Sure, fire isn't alive either, but fire is cool. Trash is something you take to the sidewalk and dump. That's not cool at all.

How many times has ash saved the world now? Just give him a master medal and then start a new game already.

But my worst gripe is how the theme has devolved. I mean, the first theme is great. You can tell that the band really wanted to make it come across that this is an epic journey and a determined protagonist.

The latest one is all like "Yeah, friendship, unity, destiney, hard work, blah blah blah" being played by a band that sounds like it's falling asleep as they choke out the lyrics.

Another thing on the evolution. I understand how fighting types appear because nature is rough and you need to be rough to fight it, but how the hell did evolution get so specific that it started making judo and karate and aikido type pokemon? Those are human fighting styles. What, did the labs create them? I would be totally fine with the excuse that labs created them. But natural evolution? Sorry, even my monumental capacity to suspend my disbelief runs out sooner or later, and judo type pokemon is where it runs dry.

There are still a lot of Pokemon even in the first generation that aren't really explained. You might as well criticize Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, and Hitmontop.

Further more the intelligence of a particular Pokemon varies depending on how they want to progress the specific plot for the show/movie. For instance in the movie that involved Zororark and Zorua- the littlest one Zorua had the ability to telepathically talk to humans and direct them to the source of the problem, whilst it's mother can only do the most basic growls, barks and noise.
So it makes sense that a Pokemon should be able to learn advance fighting disciplines. Either taught by trainer or through watching. It is also safe to assume that they can teach those techniques to their peers, and eventually the specific species of Pokemon is token for knowing such techniques.
Even in the first series they showed that a Meowth with enough dedication can learn human speech (at the cost of being able to learn new moves.)

Yet at the same time a pokemon like Scolipede is reduced to nothing more as a peaceful beast that becomes enraged at the slightest provocation.

 

[chozo_hybrid]

Snip

Wow... It's sad to hear people do that, I can understand how frustrating that must get. I reeks of the whole "stop liking what I don't like!" thing.