People always mention the Arbok being chopped in half. People never mention that the Arbok doesn't die, there isn't a grotousitus ammount of blood, there aren't Pokemon screaming in agony due to their horrid flesh wound or burn, there aren't anything that would actually show that it's a gladiator fight-to-the-death type thing. Well, except for the Elite Four, who tried to kill of Ash and everyone who saw them. I'll admit that was dark, frightening, and traumatic. I loved it.

My point is, Pokemon, if taken to another level, would be something akin to Survival Horror genre. Having to limit your supplies carefully, watch your back for bloodthirsty and adorable creatures, putting your fallen teammates to rest, all that stuff. It could have, and still could be, something extremely entertaining. Rather than a quick 15-hour nuzlock run, you could have an 80+ hour emotional roller coaster with tons of jumpscares, deaths, mutilations, and all sorts of goodies.

But yeah, I'm not hating on the manga or the game. The anime, yeah, hell yeah I'll hate on. But not the game or manga. The manga does have dark components, which I love and respect. The game, though being a series of linear gameplay, lackluster plot, and ever-growing long battles, will remain dear to my heart. It's not just the nostalgia that keeps me coming, it's the strategy, the IV and EV training, the techniques being limited to four, it's the, ironic enough, turn based battles. It's not a bad series. It's just that it could be so much better.