Always funny seeing people bring up old games for difficulty.
It's usually for 1 of 2 reasons.
1. You were a kid and thus not as smart.
2. Controls were worse off and game hard for that reason. (many old (s)nes, ect games fit this. Not good controls and no save feature + being like 8 years old equals "game hard". When if you try those games now you can beat them in a couple of hours. (a game time that we would hate on today for being too short, yet praise those games as awesome.))
In pokemon's case it is #1. Red and Blue or other games were never hard. As with most all pokemon games, if you keep using your starter you basically can walk through game almost solo. Red and Blue especially had some major broken pokemon. I think like the psychic pokemon were especially broken if I recall.
But as with 99% of games, especially Nintendo games, there is an easy way to not break the game Yourself. Do a Locke of some version. People invented ways to have "permadeath" for years. The game also has a switch/set method for battling which makes it harder. Also don't use the "god" mode that Nintnedo seems to put into games these days. You know like some recent Mario games that if you can't beat a level after so many deaths you can skip it or it gives you like a super strong powerup thing. If you think it's cheap or ruins it, don't use it. Simple as that.
But here are simple tips to not break game.
1. Put game into set mode
2. Try new pokemon, switch up team frequently. (not only does this prevent overleveling, but also get soem variety and try out new pokes.
3. When going around catching pokemon or using tauras to rock smash and find hidden items, ect. Switch out your main pokes so they don't get overleved when your doing misc stuff.
Those are some basics for any time you are playing. Optional things you can do are:
1. Turn off XP share (I usually leave on because like to try new pokes. Also they seem to have nerfed it somewhat this gen, thankfully)
2. Do a locke of some form. Nuzzlocke, wonderlocke, or just a simple permadeath.
3. Do a theme. You know, like an all bug team or dog team.
4. Make up any other rule you want. I check out pokemon vids online once in a whiel. Not to watch someone play pokemon for hours, but to see if there is some new neat rule they thought up to try. You know something like "You can only go to the pokemon center once, that # increases after each gym you beat" "Can only use berries for healing/status/ect instead of antidotes/potions." "Each pokemon can only be used for 1 or 2 gyms" ect.
As for telling me weaknesses or not. Hardly a "for 8 year olds" As people have said, Shin megami sensei does it. Many RPG's do. Heck how many RPG's have giant glowing spots showing you an opponents "weak spot" Giant crabs stand no chance. But in pokemons instance, all this did was keep people from flipping through serebii as much. Even major youtubers for pokemon, who it seems only play pokemon, would flip on serebii often to check a weakness. Now obviously if you wanted the game to be "harder" you didn't do that. But then same examples I gave above. Make the game harder for yourself by making your own rules.
That is one problem some gamers can have when "growing up". When you were young, you played a game to have fun. When your older, you may start to metagame your game. You play it to 100% it, dominate it, be the best, have best gear, ect. That's good and all, but it's also just as fun to try and beat Zelda with 3 hearts, or an RGP in starter gear.
