Maybe I'm overselling it a bit, but consider it came out alongside Firered/Leafgreen and Emerald. The jump to 3D, the new capture mechanics, the story that took place in the Pokemon world but didn't revolve around just ranking up as a trainer and becoming the champion - it's the high water mark of the franchise for me.
But it also came out riiiiiiiight at the end of my being in the target demo for Pokemon, so maybe it was just exactly what 13 year old me wanted.
Maybe I'm overselling it a bit, but consider it came out alongside Firered/Leafgreen and Emerald. The jump to 3D, the new capture mechanics, the story that took place in the Pokemon world but didn't revolve around just ranking up as a trainer and becoming the champion - it's the high water mark of the franchise for me.
But it also came out riiiiiiiight at the end of my being in the target demo for Pokemon, so maybe it was just exactly what 13 year old me wanted.
True, when I think about it they were pretty good for the time. I kinda feel like revisiting them.