Have you played Pokemon Black/White Version 1 or 2? The story is completly different then any Pokemon before it. The plot team Plasma has actually has you thinking about which side you want to join, and the badges aren't so much the focus of the game. There is also a lot more CG cutscenese in the game.

However the Pokemon themselves sure feel like they lack inspiration nowdays. I mean the 3 starters, arguably the most important pokemon in the game, are a leaf, a fighting seal, and a fat ..... I don't even know. Gen 1 was a flying fire lizard, a turtle with water cannons, and a large lizard with a parasite on its back. Heck legendaries too, before they were named Artic 1, Zap 2, Molten 3 (1-3 in Spanish), the only dragon Pokemon was not a legendary, and Mewtwo was some man made semi Clone Pokemon. Now we have Arceus, which is essentially the god of the Universe and looks like a Horse with a ring, and some bland flying clouds. However Genesect and Victini give the series some hope.

I've never had to defend either of these games but Final Fantasy 9 and Suikoden 2 would be the two games that ill defend to the grave :P

i dony use metacritc for anything so if someone says its bad.. i just fight them to the death, its easier