Pokémon X and Y Retrospective: A Forgotten Chapter of the Franchise

[@TamValleyProductions]

If you want to see the cinematic retelling of Pokémon Z I alluded to in this video, complete with voice acting, animations and an original story, you can check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJ2rZpd6h5h7eNE

[@clonetrooper2003]

It was great ngl. I FULLY regard it as the canonical third version

[@jet0688]

I disagree, this is way better then the newer games which don’t have these Pokémon anymore I miss those old Pokémon and sadly I don’t have my ds anymore

[@islmokiboi]

And fly with pokmon???

[@thoughts9856]

X and Y is a a lot like Diamond and Pearl a lot of potential and which could be perfected with a third entry. DP got Platinum X and Y got Whoops gotta rush to Gen 7.

[@TamValleyProductions]

Yup, my dream Pokémon Z video coming soon.

[@leonardofarias8843]

Gotta do it for the 20th anniversary

[@roxasbaker]

@@leonardofarias8843 what about gen 8 it got the X and Y treatment with no new version the story felt short and rushed with the Eternatus and Chairman Rose and the Dlc really didn’t help it at all

[@NiNGalaxU2]

There was a leak in 2020 I think where a guy hacked into Nintendo's files from the eShop from the Switch. He for example leaked the SwSh Beta and the Beta of DP with unused designs and Pokémon. What also came out of this leak was a schedule of the Pokémon games Game Freak wanted to make and it clearly stated X2&Y2 in 2015 was supposed to happen. It is assumed those were direct sequels like B2&E2 but it's also assumed that they decided against the X&Y sequels because the B&W sequels didn't sell that great for Pokémon standards. If this is true it's a shame, really.

[@smoldoritochild4136]

So true and I will forever hate Sun and Moon because of that

[@x4thmessiahx]

I absolutely loved X and Y. Those games got me through college lol their potential being thrown away really hurt. I'm hoping if we ever get remakes, we get extended versions of the games. They deserve it.

[@TamValleyProductions]

Agreed! Stay tuned for my Pokémon Z rewrite next week. Hopefully they’ll address a lot of the potential you mentioned.

[@damienthenovice]

Same here. Pokemon Y was the first Pokemon game I've played and it was what got me into the franchise.

[@thunderboargames8369]

REMAKES!

[@nonametherabbit8593]

Yessss...Pokemon dx and dy when?

[@Jaur-jaur]

@@nonametherabbit8593 The remake could just be one, Pokemon Z.

[@johnpaulcross424]

I’ve always been so disappointed at how the potential of Gen6’s unique region design and lore was wasted in the first games and that Z was never made, leaving it to rot. I believe if Z had been given enough time in the oven to iron out the mistakes that X and Y had, while giving us a better story with a tighter, more engaging cast, it could’ve been an amazing game.

[@TamValleyProductions]

I agree. I think the prevailing theory is that Gamefreak scrapped Gen 6 second versions or a Z game in favor of rushing out Sun and Moon to coincide with Pokémon Go/the 20th anniversary. It’s a shame and I hope whenever we inevitably return to Kalos (either as remakes or a Let’s Go game) they address so many of the fanbase’s critiques from the last eight years.

[@a.x.x8184]

Still started the ugly girly/feminine starter trend & the fact all 3 kalos starters are humanoids & bipedal eeew. Also despise Delphox bc since it we gotten Primarina & Intelion. Gens 1-5 starters were the good old days back when starters were actual Monsters/Animal like than humanoid Digimons. I’m sorry, but this Gen made me hate it for starting the new design style of starters afterwards onto the dumb bipedal train for all (Primarina even being ugly was the only post Gen 6-8 starter to not stand on 2 legs). Yeah there’s Blaziken, Typlosion and Emboar who are on 2 legs, but they look more like Monsters/animals than humanoids in a furry suit based around human things like a Skirt fox waving a wand to Rillaboom with human hair & drum set, like wtf how could they ruin a gorilla? However If they took the dumb fckn wand off & puffy ears of Delphox it would slightly make he/she/it more likable lmao.

[@thewarrior8497]

@@thecod2345 ☠️

[@bookmew1081]

Decidueye is my least liked Alola Starter as crazy as that sounds. I just don't understand why Archery Owl is Ghost Type, while I love the idea of Wrestling Villain Tiger & Mermaid so much more. I also love the Gen 8 Starters & don't understand the hate for bipedal & humanoid starters even if they have been overdone recently.

[@x4thmessiahx]

Z would have been the Platinum of Gen 6. It's such a shame it was scrapped altogether

[@icantread1058]

Gen 6 was my first, so it hurt to get left behind like that when everyone else wanted to move on so soon, including Nintendo.

[@TamValleyProductions]

Yup

[@gumballgun]

Yes me too I wish people gave it more love

[@ariesstar162]

Same for me, my first and I loved it but everyone wanted to move on so no Z

[@darkmatter9651]

Gen 7 was my first, And I love gen 6 nonetheless. I joined this franchise late

[@realrayruby]

same for me

[@AeirEclipseHayastin]

It really felt like XY was made first as GF's first real step to going into 3D, a testing ground. And it frustrates me, because at the time, I was practically begging GF to not move onto the next generation so fast. Alas, they moved on, and they left Kalos in the dust. I really hope that when the inevitable remakes happen, that they finally give Kalos the respect it deserves.

[@c0mpu73rguy]

Like they did with BDSP you mean? Sure, can't wait for them to literally release X&Y again. This time, I just won't bother buying it in the first place.

[@Material_Monkey]

Its going to be a port of the same game and not a remake. Like they did with the diamant/perl remakes...

[@AeirEclipseHayastin]

@@Material_Monkey And that's the thing I'm not looking forward to.

[@c0mpu73rguy]

@@AeirEclipseHayastin I'm kinda looking forward to it just to laugh at the gen 6 stans again.

[@monika2124]

Tbh I think the pixel version suits the series wayyy better. It just looks much better

[@OfficialCreeperTV]

I wonder if the whole cut content from the power plant would have shown more to back up Lysandre's point about the beauty not being sustainable. Awesome video as always!

[@TamValleyProductions]

That would have been cool. There were some nice industrial or outright abandoned areas (Lost Hotel, Power Plant, Poké Ball Factory) that would have served that narrative well, as you mentioned. In my dream Pokémon Z there would be a lot more story elements in those locations aside from random trainer or Team Flare battles.

[@larniieplayz6285]

Maybe

[@C_Train74]

I feel like they recycled that idea into Rose’s disaster of a story in Gen 8.

[@sunnydays07]

@@C_Train74 but…it’s a disaster. Also, Rose only tells us that the energy crisis is there, do we ever witness it firsthand?

[@arcticfox6338]

@@sunnydays07 then again it is stated that that’s the whole reason Leon is so against his actions. It’s an issue that HASNT happened yet, won’t for a thousand years, and is only based in numbers(likely just calculating energy consumption, growth rates, and the limited amount of wishing stars). The whole idea is that he’s being illogical to face the issue so early on so radically with the potential to destroy the present

[@alexisschiffer4830]

The main series Pokemon games could be so much better if Gamefreak/Nintendo stopped rushing to release them year after year. Like 2-3 years between a release. There would be no need for a third or enhanced version of a game if the first games released had everything fully fleshed out.

[@TamValleyProductions]

Agreed!

[@jjerryw]

I would bet that are even Pokemon developers that think the same way, but Pokemon games aren't just games anymore. They're a cog in the giant machine that is the Pokemon brand right now and as such they have keep the games going so that money keeps coming.

[@nellewoodruff6337]

True. I always thought this was a recent problem, but it's been going on since gen 4 with how much stuff platinum fixed

[@leonardofarias8843]

Didn’t we get close to 2 years of development time with X and Y

[@SchrollShepard]

@@leonardofarias8843 Well yeah, but remember these were the first mainline fully 3D games in the franchise. They had to model and animate every single pokemon in 3D from scratch. (Unlike the games that came after, which are just reusing those models with higher resolution and textures, no matter the lies they spun for Sword & Shield, which were debunked by dataminers)

[@ryanhernandez1317]

I really liked how X and Y was the first Pokémon game with genuine avatar customization. It just really helps players feel included in the story by having one be able to choose one’s race and change the clothing to best match one’s personal style.

[@DakotaofRaptors]

If a game let's me play dress up chances are I am gonna love it

[@KremBotop]

Funny how the 2 most notable legacies left so far by Gen 6 were its notorious competitive scene and its anime adaptation. For the latter, it also ended up doing its own thing just like the Gen 5 one, only this time for the better. Zygarde was actually relevant for once (kinda at the expense of Xerneas and Yveltal who barely showed up outside of the Diancie movie... But still). It was also the end of an era as it is currently the last series with the traditional formula of the "single region travel adventure", as well as the artstyle being still closely based on the original 90's one.

[@TamValleyProductions]

After the original Indigo League arc, XY is my favorite part of the anime.

[@KremBotop]

@@TamValleyProductions Same! Watching it when it was first airing in JP remains as one of the most exciting Pokémon-related experiences I had in a long time.

[@Kyumifun]

For real, anime was awesome and it's what got me into Pokémon. Love the art style and characters. If only it was the fact that Ash had previous adventures beforeKalos, it wouldn't hurt so bad knowing the Pokémon keeps reusing the same stuff all over again. I think if the protag of the anime was different or if Ash won the finals it all would be perfect. I pretty much enjoyed everything else. The little adventures with some Pokémon (Clemont doing a little rewind on how he caught Bunnelby, Braixen's broken twig/stick with what was James's role in it, etc. Are pure S tiers)

[@crisismoon880]

The X and Y anime actually felt like a Shonen anime

[@seineevee]

The XYZ anime is what really got me into Pokémon! I saw it while it was airing and it was such a great experience

[@alexsandifer5139]

Gen 6 will always have a soft spot in my heart because of the low pressure feeling of the games. It’s (mostly) a fun romp through a beautiful setting with a group of friends

[@Soniman001]

Those “friends” are as interesting as lukewarm water

[@alexsandifer5139]

@@Soniman001 The water sommelier would argue lukewarm water is better for consumption and appreciating its qualities. It's all about perspective, and I enjoyed feeling less alone

[@olivreheck]

@@Soniman001 i can only remember one of them had hair that made him look like a dumpling and you watch fireworks with one of the girls

[@DakotaofRaptors]

@@olivreheck and depending on the gender of your character, she might have been a lesbo

[@clonetrooper2003]

Mine too

[@mysteryx267]

Kalos is the definition of a region that is full of life and had massive potential to become one of the most beloved regions but just never reached its full potential. I love the games but if they had made a sequel they could've explored AZ more and open up the powerplant. Maybe even rationalize Lysander as he's never confirmed dead and could've returned. I wouldn't mind a small town that Lysandre grew up with that was ruined to rationalize his goal. Man I wish they made a pokemon Z or sequels to make Kalos amazing. Only hope for Kalos now is in the remakes that'll probably be out in 2032. (Side note I think the Kalos pokemon and music are some of the best parts of the game).

[@TamValleyProductions]

Interesting ideas there. I think the ruined town would be awesome and it’s definitely similar to an idea I’m incorporating into my forthcoming Pokémon Z video.

[@videos43334dhdjj774h]

X and Y became worst than oras because oras have a lot of mega evolutions that x and y doesn't even have in their database and game freak didn't even make an effort to update x and y in order to have all these megas into the game. So in Gen 6 the full potential of the meta game is in the Hoenn Remakes and not in the Kalos region games that's a bit strange if you want my opinion

[@dhampir_days]

Lysandre does actually have a confirmed fate, but it depends on your version. in Y, Yveltal's power kills him. in X, Xerneas' power turns him immortal, fated to be crushed under the rubble forever but never dying, which is pretty fucked up. actually the fact XY got pretty dark in terms of life and death is why I liked the story so much, even if the writing is iffy.

[@mysteryx267]

@@dhampir_days Where did you find this information I've never seen that before.

[@dhampir_days]

@@mysteryx267 dialogue by Sycamore implies some of it, but a lot of it was confirmed by the wiki and outside sources like manga

[@realkingofantarctica]

I played X to death back when I got it and is (I think) my most played 3DS game. But, despite all the time I spent on it, I always felt as if it was lacking as a generation, by fault of both its design as well as the lack of a tertiary game or sequel. I enjoyed both Gen 7 and especially Gen 5 considerably more as a whole, so it's definitely an outlier despite Mega Evolution being the best modern Pokemon gimmick by far.

[@TamValleyProductions]

Gen 5 and 7 were very memorable in terms of story and overall aesthetic, so yeah I agree that Kalos had that unfortunate issue of being bookended by two much stronger generations.

[@pkmnproductions7461]

@@TamValleyProductions Its kinda funny how its the opposite as the Anime counterparts both tho lol

[@fritomusic7832]

@@pkmnproductions7461 literally because especially when the XY and Diamond Pearl series are sandwiches between the worst series.

[@sierrabarry6864]

@@pkmnproductions7461 the alolan region anime is pretty good tho

[@ademirobaderna]

@@sierrabarry6864 well, if you compare to others…. ehhh it’s just mid, and I watched it as well

[@frownyclowny6955]

X was my first mainline Pokémon game, Fennekin was my first starter, and Fletchling was my first caught Pokémon. I had been a fan prior to X/Y’s reveal, but I’m so happy that I started with THOSE games. They would be easily forgotten between two genuinely awesome regions, but I know that X/Y would be special to me. Thank you Pokémon X, you may’ve been weak for the most part, but damn it you are my Kanto. And that’s they best way these games could be described- as “Kanto-Like”. Not a lot of content or engaging stuff, but solid enough in the memory of a 10-year old to hold a special place in their heart forever.

[@kadoharp]

I love X and Y they’re some of my favorite games, it’s so weird to hear how unpopular and forgotten these games are

[@clonetrooper2003]

Mine too

[@Meese12]

Because they're not. Poorly performing pokemon games are still wildly successful.

[@qwertygutierrez1293]

it's not surprising that this game is unpopular bc how bland and forgettable it was

[@Aukejorrit]

Gen 6 was honestly great to me. After a period of years of not really getting new games because og a lack of money, getting a 3ds felt like a triumph. Starting out with this game just made me feel like i was truly in a new era. These games still feel like a new chapter in many ways, and i really enjoy the style!

[@TamValleyProductions]

Agree, this was a huge new era for me as well. Everything from the competitive battling scene, Pokémon content on KZbin, challenge runs, it all enriched my Pokémon fandom.

[@Aukejorrit]

@@TamValleyProductions i remember watching the firdt playthrough of MunchingOrange when the game just dropped. Seeing everything for the first time with him was exhilarating!

[@TamValleyProductions]

Yeah! I watched the entirety of Marriland’s X play through and I’ll always remember that fondly.

[@Clemehl]

I believe Sycamore used to be a "villain" in the script, and Lysandre / Sycamore were kind of the equivalent of Maxie / Archie. I don't have any proof, but it always seemed off that Lysandre has Yveltal's color and Sycamore has Xerneas's color (why?). I can see Sycamore as an idealist with good intention but completely in denial of the purpose of death, wanting to use Xerneas to grant immortality to all, unsatisfied about having so little time to enjoy the beauty of world. Lysandre would keep its realist stance and its plot of "removing" most people in order to preserve the beauty of the world. It is just an hypothesis, nothing real. But if it was, I would understand why they scrapped it: too similar of Hoenn plot (future remake) while using Ideal (N) vs Reality (Colress) dilemna from Unova (last game).

[@lisiastar8441]

Henlo,super late into this,butt you're kinda right basically,back before xy came out,there were some leaks that took into light the og plotline of the game and comparing to what we got,plus what we got in gen 7 it isn't farfetched at all to go into more detail and from what I recall,Sycamore and Lysandre were the same person,just 2 personalities(sort of saying) that would jump out from time to time(hence why you never see them interact with eachother face to face in the game. Diantha alongside them was part of an alien race(Ultra beast style) they came to kalos for some reason and the whole plot revolved around this conflict(there's a video on youtube discussing the og xy plotline) there's actually so much that correlated between what we got in XY and SM/USUM and how most was to come in XY Also they were rushed,by Nintendo,at the time the 3ds was a failing console and they needed the pokemon mainline games in it to help with the sales,otherwise stuff was going rly bad inside the company. Hence why XY came only 10 months(if that) after BW2,why so much content from XY just seems like it's lacking/not full and overall rushed,especially for the post game plot. and if im also not mistaken Zygarde would've played a much bigger role in the og games,instead of the SM games.

[@editix8034]

@@lisiastar8441 hello I am to a bit late but as you said yes zygarde would have played a MUCH bigger role. He was supposed to be earths protector from alien life forms that came to earth scattering his cells all over the world to keep an eye on everything this would have been tied to AZ, xerneas and yveltal arrival on earth

[@KanohiVahi]

@@editix8034 "Sugared" lol. That is quite a autocorrect 😆

[@editix8034]

@@KanohiVahi lmao I didn’t even noticed

[@leikfroakies]

Cancelling Z was such a tragedy. It was shaping up to be one of the best

[@TheNamelessOne888]

For me, the most frustrating aspect of X & Y's incompleteness was the lack of Zygarde lore during Gen 6. It was shoehorned in Sun & Moon with no purpose whatsoever. The themes of Gen 6's games set up Zygarde as the controller of life and death, the one who either awakens Xerneas and Yveltal or the one who puts them to sleep depending on what the ecosystem needs. There was also a hint of a connection between the Aura Trio and the Weather Trio almost as if they were counterparts to each other, one controlling life energy and the other nature energy. They might even share a common origin, and I dare to say that it is the Original Dragon of Unova. There are themes that connects them all to Taoism and how yin and yang produce chi (lifeforce), both life energy and nature energy being the two types of chi.

[@madisonyomans9004]

to add onto this theory the aura trio and Weather Trio both a similar color theme ( red, blue, and green). The most powerful legendary in the trio both being green and dragon types. also, with the remakes omegaRuby and alpha sapphire having mega evolution along with the fact, the Creator said, Xy and mega Ruby and sapphire, taking place around the same time.

[@TheNamelessOne888]

@@madisonyomans9004 Yeah, the design choices for both groups of legendaries seems to be intentional. They mirror each other in many ways. There is a connection between Mega Evolution and Primal Reversion that wasn't explored properly. The second pair of Kalos games were probably going to explore that, but those never happened. Now we have Z-A for 2025, but I don't think it's going to go down that route anymore. It seems different concept designers are working with the more recent Pokémon games.

[@nathanblackburn1193]

While I don't think a Z version would have fixed every shortcoming with gen 6 it would at least stop gen 6 from feeling unfinished, there are just so many pointless areas and little details that build up to nothing. Also on the topic of mega evolution I think the main problem is the fact that most mega forms were given to pokemon that didn't need them like did we really need mega-Metagross or mega Salamence, mega-Mewtwo should flat-out not exist and neither should mega-Charizard X frankly, like if you compare mega-Charizard X to the other mega Kanto starters it doesn't fit in at all as the other mega Kanto starters do not change type or colour and they focus on the starters traits Blastoise's canons Venusaur's flower and Charizard Y's wings, but hey I don't like Charizard in the first place so maybe I'm just bitter that Gamefreak keep shilling it.

[@TamValleyProductions]

You nailed it, many of these mega evolutions were already given to popular, intense or over the top Pokémon and that was the main problem. Especially since my favorite megas are for the “forgotten” Pokémon like Beedrill or Kangaakhan.

[@nathanblackburn1193]

@@TamValleyProductions Not only that but the distribution of megas is also pretty wonky like gen 5 and gen 6 only have 1 mega each mega Audino and mega Diancie a mythical pokemon and somewhat unrelated but it's stated that the only reason we didn't get mega Flygon is because they "couldn't think of a design" like really there are dozens of fan-made mega Flygons it's not hard. Mega evolution was a good idea but it was handled so poorly which kinda is X & Y as a whole good ideas bungled execution.

[@dhampir_days]

I'm just forever mad that they gave the Kanto starters megas, but not the Kalos ones, when they're the gen that literally introduced them??

[@SchrollShepard]

@@nathanblackburn1193 Completely agree. They should have made Megas for the weaker & mostly underused pokemon, so they would become viable and expand the list of possible options for team building. But whatever, let's give mewtwo anc charizard *two* fucking megas each, why not?

[@EmeralBookwise]

@@nathanblackburn1193: that distribution was entirely intentional. The point of Mega Evolution was to refresh and reinvigorate older mons. Gen-6 was the new kid on the block, so obviously its roster didn't need a refresh, and Gen-5 was likewise still quite new as well.

[@VictoryReviews]

I personally love Mega Evolutions but I understand your critique towards how they don't really evolve the concepts or even change them much yet to me their exaggerated quirks are appealing to me. I agree that wonder trade and X/Ys internet features were perhaps the best of any generation Team Flare could've been way you cooler but they're never developed it just goes to show how desperately needed a Pokemon Z would've been. X and Y as a whole screams untapped potential and I wish we could've seen it fully fleshed out. Great analysis of one of my most nostalgic generations. You really knocked it out of the park. I can't wait to hear your in depth thoughts on other gens

[@domenicavallone28]

Mega Evolution was good…in theory. They gave pokemon who shouldn’t have gotten megas {Mawhile, Absol, Manetic, Lopunny etc} and then dropped the whole gimmick. Now I know want you’re thinking “those pokemon needed a buff” and you’re 100% correct, buttttt all those pokemon I listed were from a two stage evolutionary line (absol is a single stage), meaning they had room for a permanent evolution! Mega evolution was a ploy - a gimmick used to reel in fans but then was dropped in future gens and idk why!! Those previously mentioned pokemon go right back to being medicore at best in gens 7s & 8, when they could have been amazing, had the evolution been permanent!!

[@nameless458]

Mega evolutions on pokes that have base stats of 600 is the biggest offence imo as far as this gimmick goes.

[@simeonwashington9995]

I think an interesting idea that could've led to Lysandre's point was Lumiose. Large city home to electric type gym. Compared to every other location, it is the most developed. However, the desert/badlands area is right next to it with various factories and power plants. What if this was causing the "desertification" of the region? It's beauty being destroyed by modernization going out of control? Then you can bring in the legendaries as they have strong ties to the environment. Would Yveltal thrive in this sitiation? Would Xerneas come to the rescue? Or will Zygarde come out of hiding? All the while Lysandre uncovers the history of his family and the region to uncover AZ's weapon hoping to stop things before they get way out of hand. This was all just a thought I had while watching your video. Really wish we could've seen more effort in the story and use of the legendaries and how the world is effected.

[@ovaltinejenkins1136]

I too remember the X and Y generation very fondly. It was the games that brought me back to playing Pokémon. Before then, the last game I had played was the remakes of Gold and silver. I remember how MASSIVE the online community for this game was. There were, LITERALLY, thousands of FB pages dedicated to trading, discussions, and other fun things for X and Y. I miss those days. Always something to do in those games.

[@pedromonteiro2248]

God, your comment is so true!

[@Draconicdisciple]

I have to disagree on Lysandre's point, as it very much makes sense from a psychology point of view and is enhanced by the world. While it would make sense to put in an area that is slowly becoming less beautiful, Lysandre would have less incentive to preserve the world in the first place if that blemish was already there. In addition, he would already have known that this beauty possibly couldn't last as this was definitely a golden age for Kalos following an ancient war that left the region decimated, especially as its his ancestors that created that weapon and decimated the region in the first place. By the world being perfect already, it fits within psychology that Lysandre fears "what if it starts to shrivel up from human consumption?". After all, how often do you hear people say "I don't want to be rejected by people, so I'd rather not interact with people at all." Its the same thing as "I don't want the world to become ugly, so I'm going to make sure it can never change again" but on a very extreme scale obviously.

[@TamValleyProductions]

You make a great point here. I can definitely see how Lysandre is driven by an extreme (if somewhat irrational) fear of change, rather than a fear of ugliness itself. That fear of the change into, or potential of, ugliness makes sense given Lysandre’s connections to the ancient weapon through royal ancestry, but I think for this characterization to really make sense there needed to be much more established connection between Lysandre and AZ, the royal family or the general history of the war. That way Lysandre could have seen himself as a “savior” of the region based on his bloodline.

[@Draconicdisciple]

@@TamValleyProductions Oh I definitely agree it could have been done better, and his familial connections strengthened. I just think more time spent on the story in some areas involving him to show his personality and beliefs a bit more would benefit him more than changing the environment specifically to justify his beliefs. In this sense the side material does more to flesh it out than the main game (Evolutions and Pokemon Masters)

[@JOCoStudio1]

He could have really done with a weapon that preserved things in some way then, rather than killing everyone. There was just too much disconnect and it had next to nothing to do with the legendaries being used. The fact that they were entirely interchangeable despite being opposites was enough of a red flag.

[@Draconicdisciple]

@@JOCoStudio1 Preserving everything is the plot behind Pokemon X specifically to justify Lysandre wanting Xerneas. You can see that in Pokemon Evolutions.

[@boianko]

Could have easily added something like a company or city planning organization that had plans to build new power plants (this js France after all) or other industrial buildings, maybe even just making the region more cosmopolitan to give his fear a bit of substance. As it stands we only had Diantha saying she wants to change roles as she grows older indicating any change to the status quo. It would have been better imo if the threat of change was present in the future, even if it was not yet happening.

[@JammoYT]

I will always remember these games. They weren't my first generation, but was the generation that turned me from a casual Pokémon fan into a big Pokémon fanatic.

[@ashywashy71296]

Came here after watching your Black & White retrospective. Great video! Clear & concise points that I agree with. I also remember the pre-release era very fondly. It was truly a transformative time for Pokemon, whether good or bad. A re-visit to Kalos via Pokemon Z would be amazing and I do hope Kalos gets the chance to redeem itself further. Especially because the 10 year anniversary of these games will be next year!? But I definitely wouldn't want to rush the Pokemon Company into any release LOLL

[@Torterra625]

I have more fond memories of Gen VI than I do Gen VIII. And that used to be one of my least favorites. Having said that, this is the exact point where Pokémon’s production rush started. Since this game, they’ve always had to push out a game every 2 years or less, and that is not a creatively sustainable avenue. That is only going to hurt them. Hell, it already has.

[@TamValleyProductions]

Agreed on all points. I think Legends proved that Pokémon has so much more potential when the projects can proceed at their own pace rather than the expectation of a new generation each year on a fixed cycle. Here’s to hoping things will slow down and we get great games 2+ years apart.

[@Torterra625]

@@TamValleyProductions Sadly, to get things to slow down, people may need to stop giving them money for a while. Easier said than done.

[@nonametherabbit8593]

@@TamValleyProductions Iwao better direct Gen 10 if they make one

[@hairglowingkyle4572]

@@TamValleyProductions With Pokemon SV already having a teaser trailer and apparently coming out late this year I really doubt that

[@Evegurumi]

Actually, looking at the original release schedule, Pokemon has pushed a new game at least every two years since the beginning. Red/Blue/Green -96, then Yellow -98, then already a new gen around -99. Every new generation has been around for 3-4 years too, usually [The only two generations being 4 years are Gen III and Gen IV]. This is not a new thing at all. Yearly releases are a bit newer thing though, minus the gap between Gen 1 and Gen 2. [Gap between Yellow and GS being just one year]

[@chunk1179]

what an incredible deep dive, i normally don’t watch videos this long but the pacing and visuals are so captivating… AWESOME VIDEO SLAYYYY

[@TamValleyProductions]

Thanks! More coming soon

[@gerawallstar3487]

It's funny how you mentioned that this was the game that started the "games too easy" trend due to mobile devices and other distractions because believe it or not, in 2013, it was at a time when kids were playing with smartphones and tablets. 2013 and 2015 especially was when technology and social media started to increase.

[@grahambirch8563]

Whilst X&Y does have it's flaws, the accesibility it was designed with in mind makes it one of the easiest ones to want to revisit with new Playthroughs. Compare this with Sun&Moon which are too hand-holdy and cutscene-heavy to want to replay despite the strong story.

[@TamValleyProductions]

Agreed!

[@jbcatz5]

Thank Arceus Sword and Shield introduced a skip cutscene option, as well as removing tutorial event flags if you demonstrate that tutorial beforehand.

[@hectorpagan4812]

Super underrated channel love your videos dude ! This channel has to blow up!

[@TamValleyProductions]

Thank you :) stay tuned for more!

[@giak0000]

As someone who visited France and is currently learning French, I absolutely L O V E the Kalos region! It might not be the most flashed out, but being able to relive my journey in France through this game felt REALLY magical. For me, my enjoyment of the games hinges a lot on wether I enjoy the region both aesthetically and mechanically, and on that front X and Y absolutely delivered, which is why they're my favourite games in the series so far, even if some of the aspects in the game are lacking. Also, the music SLAPS!

[@samyak128]

For me, and probably many others, the Gen 6 experience was heavily influenced by the then-Pokemon community on KZbin. Following online battles, shiny hunting, wondertrade streams, Showdown battles, etc it all started with Gen 6 and was a core part of my experience of both XY and ORAS. The fact that a lot of this community imploded (King Nappy etc) or the old channels becoming forgotten, a large part of Gen 6 was lost (at least for me)

[@NotSpecialDude]

I think the best aspect of X and Y, and one where its accessibility focus was best utilized was in competitive play. Gen 6 is where breeding, and battling on a more competitive level was incredibly simplified. I distinctly remember my frustrations of gen 5 where it was nearly impossible to compete online due to cheaters and pokegeners having a complete advantage over me. Not only were hidden mechanics like IVs and EVs allowed to be directly viewed in this game for the first time, but breeding for perfect IVs became more then possible thanks to the upgrade the previously useless Destiny Knot got. Plus Hidden power got a nerf that made it more accessible. Previously, its power and type were determined by IVs so in order to get a 70 power moved of an ideal type meant breeding for a specific IV count which was impossible in prior gens. Gen 6 changed it so that while the type was still determined by IV, the power was a flat 60 always. Which made it MUCH easier to get the ideal type coverage. (It also made it better on technician pokemon.) Gen 6 made competitive accessible and I cannot thank it enough.

[@maripaws]

I remember seeing the x and y reveals in an opera theater my mom worked at when I was like 5

[@AJDaBaws]

I bought X and Y at the Nintendo store during a trip to NYC. It was my first Pokemon game, and despite others my age (I was 13) avoiding Pokemon because "it's a kiddie game", I enjoyed every minute of that game.

[@acetrainerevan]

I guess it’s largely because I’m a huge Francophile, but Kalos is genuinely my favorite region- the geography, the vibrant colors, the cities, the culture- I love everything about it! It breaks my heart that it never got an expansion, because it absolutely needed one, more so than any other game in the series.

[@TamValleyProductions]

I spent some time living in France as a kid and Kalos gives me warm feelings for the same reasons. Stay tuned for my Pokémon Z rewrite where I give Kalos justice!

[@gameinsane4718]

After revisiting Sinnoh in BDSP… yeah the routes in XY are legit pleasant to venture through. Linear sure, forgettable kinda, but it’s always a nice feeling to walk around the Kalos wilderness

[@DakotaofRaptors]

Gen 6 had some beautiful routes and music to go along with it, so that helped.

[@tobluetoblack]

honestly, I think gen 6's main problem, main issue above all else is unfulfilled potential. So much of it had the *potential* to be good but it was never fully implemented or embraced and even now the effects of it are still in play with more gimmick based content comparative to something truly different and ground breaking like Arceus

[@gravity1537]

I don't know why, but I've always gravitated towards things or games that feel somewhat incomplete, and that I have the creative liberty to expand on. If it's already perfect, then why get invested? X and Y are that philosophy incarnate, and I would love to see a follow-up video to this that further explore the critiques you laid out here! For example, we could have seen the effects of Inequality, pollution, corruption, climate change, or consumerism through a place like Po town from generation 7, a rundown slum controlled by a group of people who feel rejected by the world as we know it, and seek to change it with a utopic vision.

[@crios8307]

I love doing that too... as a concept artist tho. A game has in some way have to fulfill its role, and close with more answers than questions. Kalos opened too many subjects together imo, but didn't dare taking a firm stance. I agree that it's a way to encourage creativity, but the general public doesn't have this passion as a whole. BW at least concluded most of its storylines with just a little bit of mistery to keep the suspense, but overall it's a finished game once you reach the end. Having a too vast lore unexplored can feel more rrustrating than exciting when the map doesn't fully embrace its potential too (as in this video shows fancy cities... with no stories)

[@Gagafreak92]

Thank you for working on this retrospective video. I always struggled to place X&Y in a ranking. Hoenn and Unova are my two favorites for sure but after that, my personal ranking on #3/#4/#5 switches between Alola, Kalos and Sinnoh. Only because of Kalos. I had the time of my life with X&Y and the online-functions. I took a break from Pokémon for 6 years (2006, after Pokémon Mystery Dungeon 1 - 2012, around the time when B2W2 were announced). While I was replaying my old Sapphire version and had so much fun with it, I decided that I wanna get back into the franchise. My first new and blind game at the time was Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky (because I really liked the 1st one as a kid and remembered it well) and I was blown away. I still play it at least twice every year (it became a tradition/ritual and is a homage to the game for what it has done for my my mental health at the time I first played it). It took me 1 and a half year to get myself ready for a new mainline-game and a new region, which was X&Y. And I was blown away once again, visually this time. I've also been able to find out more about the competitive stuff, like EVs and IVs, breeding methods, battle strategies, etc., thanks to the online-functions like GTS, Wonder-trades and thanks to the community on KZbin and Facebook. I didn't care if the story felt unfinished, if the game was too easy or if the post-game in X&Y was kinda boring to me. The most important thing to me was to enjoy playing the game, listening to a great OST and exploring the beauty of Kalos. It sometimes felt like a trip to my neighbor France (I'm from Germany), since I've never left my country in my entire life, not even for vacation. Kalos inspired me to visit France someday, when I'm ready to climb up my introverted wall of fear and depression and will have enough time to do so.

[@ThatFlamingFroggo]

I loved X and Y, for the plot. It felt different then the carbon copies I was used to. Spoiler, but, the bad guy actually felt bad. And they didn't try to redeem them, either. I get that there is value in redemption, but for some actions, there is none. I like the ending. I loved the outfits. I loved a lot about X and Y, and I don't understand how it's not been talked about much. Sure, a lot remained the same, but it was different enough, that it is my favorite games after Crystal and Emerald.

[@julianx2rl]

I have been aware of Pokémon since the early 2000's, but it wasn't until X and Y where I finally decided to give the series a try. And oh boi, what a game to jump into, because this thing was engineered for you to complete the National Dex at the time: 1- Friend Safari that gave you access to tons of Pokémon including Chansey*** which with the use of Newcomer delphox, could give you Lucky Eggs in mass. 2- GTS, easier than ever to use, perfect to get some crazy trades (Or at least it was before the hackers attacked). 3- Tons of returning Pokémon across Kalos, some of them with brand new Mega Evolutions, setting the urge to catch 'em all. 4- A massive corridor in front of Ditto's Egg Maker Center, to hatch 'em eggs. 5- O-Powers, which could speed up just about any task, and the Battle Chateau, a major source of EXP and CASH.

[@Hibiki_Ganana]

There are two things I don't really get in your essay. First at 24:00. In the game they actually show you how people can be despicable or how the world isn't always kind to everyone. The biggest example of that is shown during AZ's cinematic. In the postgame, we meet Emma, a girl who has no parents and no home. She doesn't even live in an orphanage, no one seems to care for her and we also see punks being violent to Looker (an old man) who also has no money. In Lumiose City, there are abandoned Skiddos lying on the streets, waiting for their trainer to come back, just like a man and his Marill in the Lumiose City Hotel. There's also the Lost Hotel which concentrates all the woes of the world and the Camphrier Town Castle that used to be luxurious and is now almost ruined. On the other hand, the Parfum Palace landlord is an idiotic and irresponsible man who was handed wealth and luxury on a silver platter ; he can't take care of a single thing (not even his Pokémon). Then at 30:48 when you say that Xerneas and Yveltal are never mentioned in the games. That is not true, because the professor and Dexio come to the player to talk about their research about the legendary Pokémon and because there is also an old man in a town (I don't really remember the exact location, I think he's in Anistar City) who tells you everything about the Pokémon and how it may have been used as a scapegoat by humans in the past to erase their war crimes (that's the way it is in Y). Also, not really related to this part of the video but the themes of life and death were present throughout the entire game. (For example : it is discussed by npcs in the Parfum Palace library and by Trevor (he talks about what AZ has done with Floette). Also, there's an old painter in Anistar City who dies and writes a letter for the player to thank him/her for giving him a friend (a Pokémon) in his last days.) Now this is just my opinion but I think there is something great and somewhat powerful in these games and that's the way they insert "bittersweetness" in certain things. It is subtle but some of the characters, or events... seem very happy but hide a bit of sadness in themselves, like when a lady in Tower of Mastery tells you that professor Sycamore wanted to become a trainer who could master Mega Evolution but he had to give up on his dream because of his lack of talent. Or when you learn that the colourful Pokémon Village isn't a sort of secret place but a shelter for abandoned and abused Pokémon. It adds a bit of realism to the Pokémon world. Sorry if there are grammar mistakes, english isn't my first language.

[@spiralroad2327]

"Kalos now upheld as fair, From ancient days an ugly past doth bear". This is a very important line from the game that I think captures the narrative very well. It's part of a much longer poem about the setting and its history. Basically Kalos is pretty on the outside, with all of its stunning architecture, fashion, fine dining, etc. but also has an ugly history of war, poverty, and people being overcome by greed. It becomes increasingly apparent when you start to talk around with NPCs, read old books lying around in the game, connect the dots with all the dialogue. The Palace Owner forces you to pay $1000 to get inside, even though he doesn't need the extra money to fund the building. His maids complain that he's never had to work hard for anything, because he was born into wealth as a descendant of AZ. And when you talk to the owner directly, he says that he "doesn't get along with the commoners", which reveals the real motivation behind his entry fee. It parallels with Lysandre (who is also a descendent of AZ), charging $5, 000,000 to join Team Flare, and basically keep all the poor people out of his secret club. Battle Chateau is filled with similar characters flaunting their wealth at you as high class "Nobles". All of their trainer classes like Earl, Baron, Marquis etc. are based on real world French Nobility, and they collectively have more money than any other NPC class in the game. Mechanically, it's the best place to earn cash and Exp. on the side. Narratively fits into the game's larger messages about wealth and inequality. There's other things too, like the Lumiose City mechanic which affords you special benefits for being stylish. Characters in the city making comments about expensive food and clothes shopping. Lumiose City is genuinely expensive, and you're encouraged you to up your style and net discounts to reduce the cost of everything. Then you meet Emma, a homeless girl in ratty clothing, who tells you that she can't afford anything period. You and Looker effectively rescue this kid from poverty, which was one of the more memorable sidequests in Pokemon games to me. There's probably a-lot of other things that I'm missing, because XY is packed with cultural details that I did not pick up on during my first playthrough.

[@Hibiki_Ganana]

@@spiralroad2327 I think you are totally right. Maybe you can repost your comment so more people can read it. It's funny because I had the same exact thought a few days ago when thinking about how Pokémon is surprisingly often ahead of its time : These games came out in 2013 and what happened in France in 2018 ? The Yellow Vests crisis which was the uprising of the poor and the middle class against a scornful privileged caste, two groups living in two separate worlds. Quite a forerunner. Also, that bit about the price to join the team is actually pretty interesting. It's another clue that shows Lysandre and the professor are opposed in every way : out of everyone who wants to join team Flare, the only ones who are worthy of being the "chosen ones" are the wealthiest, not the ones who have the strongest convictions. In other words, it's an oligarch. On the other hand, the professor tells you that he originally wanted to give a Starter Pokémon to a Vaniville Town boy who happened to be the son of one of his friends but he instead gave it to you, a newcomer, so you can have the opportunity to travel and actually discover the region. Two completely different mindsets. And again on the topic of wealth and inequality, everyone knows Lysandre (or Fleur de Lys) is named like that because the Lily is associated with French royalty but I learned yesterday that the professor's original name (Platane) was not only the french for Sycamore but also a name that was given to french orphans and abandoned children during the Revolution !

[@iloveh2oshow1]

I'm a relatively new fan of pokemon getting into it when my BF at the time lent me a GBA and fire red. I instantly fell in love. I still remember becoming the champion seeing my beloved team in the hall of fame it was an awesome experience! Of course I immediately wanted more so I emulated emerald & black and white but I never ended up completing those games. Maybe it was my short attention span or my addictive personality where I just jumped to my next obsession. A few days ago I finally beat Sword its the only other pokemon game I have actually completed and so I feel like I have a weird perspective on the franchise I would love to play the other games and I'm working on finding ways to play them legitimately buy I can say (and maybe I'm the type of player the OG fans hate) but I for one love the fact that I didn't have to grind the same patch of grass for hours in-between gyms. Having thr opportunity to have a varied team instead of just the same starter and route 1 and 2 pokemon was awesome! In-between each gym I was able to formulate and train up new teams with relative ease. So ultimately I'm a huge fan if the auto EXP share. I hope they keep that (which it looks like they will) but for the fans looking for a bit more challenge it would be awesome to see them implemented some sort of difficulty option. That was the more casual demographic (me) and other people like me who will still be getting into this franchise for the first time dint have to feel overwhelmed by the craziness that is EV IV training and held items and abilities and just all of these nuances that perhaps a more seasoned fan would love go NEED to utilize Idk that's just my weird perspective on it also pokemon legends *chefs kiss💋*

[@_Tzer]

If z was made like platinum it could have made its region much more amazing.

[@Joel.Massas]

Legends Z-A is gonna be a blessing to us Kalos fans

[@vincentthekeeper2163]

Thanks for this I'm a big X/Y fan and it feels weird sometimes actually really loving these games and it sort of being the forgotten gen

[@imanicartwright4463]

, I feel like each game would have done better with separate or competing villains. One who finds beauty in destruction and oblivion and one who believes that nature and life have been put In jeopardy by civilization and seek it's destruction for the preservation of the beauty of life. That would have at least given us something to chew on.

[@TamValleyProductions]

That’s an interesting idea! Can’t believe we haven’t had split villains in the same generation since Gen 3.

[@alfie3.14]

It'd also match up pretty nicely with the box legendaries, kinda!

[@rogue1248]

Yea but I'd that happened, it'll just be a carbon copy of Maxie and Archie, who opposes their own beliefs for nature.

[@felixcroc]

I feel like they might be inching to this in Gen IX. Scarlet and Violet have a clear "past vs future" dichotomy so they might have traditionalist villains in one and accelerationist villains in the other. It wouldn't be the nihilistic "beauty in destruction" type of villain you imagine but more like "nature must die so humanity can succeed" sorta like Team Magma

[@dogearflopper7011]

Your segment on difficulty reminds me of Fudj's "Defense of Difficulty" video on how adversity makes experiences much more memorable and cherished.

[@lemonjumpa47]

X and Y is the game I had the most fun with

[@TamValleyProductions]

I agree! I remember this one very fondly.

[@petersaysthings]

I grew up with Gen 1 and didn't play later Pokemon games because newer systems either weren't a priority for me, or I couldn't afford them at the time. I got a 3DS specifically to play Pokemon X and it was the most exciting and rewarding experience for me, because it made Pokemon feel like something new again. I've started catching up on other games, but X is still close to my heart. I love the beauty of the Kalos region and there's so much amazing stuff to do.

[@soxnpats4lyfe]

X and Y are up there with my favorites. Its definitely the game that made me fall back in love with pokemon. I think it never got the love it deserved. I hope when the remakes happen it gets the cut content and more.

[@ClaytonMathisVO]

Pokémon Y was introduction to the mainline games. I was mostly into the spin offs and playing the TCG, I loved it. The characters, the Pokémon, the character customization (I think still had the best clothing options in the series for the boy character). It had great art direction and Lumiose City is ICONIC. It was the gen that got me into to playing competitive Pokémon, it was the game that made me fall in love with this franchise. So for me it's not forgotten, but it's heavily under appreciated.

[@SegaMario]

There really should be DLC in a mainline game where you can visit Kalos and essentially have an adventure there akin to what Pokémon Z could've had. Generation 7 came a little too soon, and I feel the same way with the upcoming Generation 9. Generations used to run for like 4 years, now they watered it down to 3. I think some of us can wait a bit for a new, more polished and content-packed game. Having two regions to go to was an amazing thing in the Johto games. I really want that feature to return.

[@222divnation]

This was my start in getting into the Pokemon games and favorite game. I actually liked the chibi like style of the characters on the over world and the more anime style of characters during battles ... Can I also say that the soundtrack just *slaps*.

[@nazeersadek6705]

You’re spot on regarding the trip between the first 2 gyms that was among the most fun time I had traveling in the Pokémon world but then the game went downhill from there

[@picklesbruh]

Pokemon X was my first ever Pokemon game when I was around 8 and, it’s what got me hooked into the franchise. When I learnt about how things were back then, Pokemon X and Y seemed so amazing like the technological advances were amazing! I saw nothing wrong with it and it holds such a dear spot in my heart. I hope they do a remake or at least introduce Pokemon Z cause this generation and region has such great potential. The introduction of the new type,mega evolution, as well as a new eevolution, I really thought people loved this generation!

[@HighlandOwl005]

I loved XY. Gen.6 is my favorite generation so far. I really enjoyed seeing a European based Pokémon region. It was something different and I loved it. I also really liked Mega Evolution. I just wished they would have added more post-game content and done follow up games explaining Zygarde’s back story. It was awkward seeing Zygarde’s full form in Sun and Moon and not in XY

[@TamValleyProductions]

Stay tuned for my Z rewrite in 4 days. Plenty of Zygarde and Mega lore coming

[@clearsky466]

Pokémon X And Y was the first non switch Pokémon games I played, and my second full playthrough of a game. It cemented my special interest in Pokémon and will always hold a special place in my heart despite not being my favorite game of the franchise.

[@j.r.1704]

It’s really fun listening to this after the Gen 6 rewrite. There’s a ton of fair criticism that gets addressed in the rewrite so it’s fun to see how long Team Valley was stirring on how to improve the already existing elements into a much better story

[@Weavileiscool]

X and Y were the games everyone was playing when I was in elementary school, so I could never forget them and they have shaped me a lot as well.

[@calistatran1432]

I enjoyed my first playthrough of Y, but looking back on it there are a few things that stand out to me. There wasn’t enough lore surrounding the box legendaries and i do believe we needed Z to complete the story. Although X & Y had the best character customization options.

[@benmcgiggles7655]

Thank you for making this video. X and Y aren't my favorite pokemon games, but it's the one that I probably have the fondest memories of. It came at the perfect time for me. A huge amount of my friends and my brother were playing it, and I even got into competitive battling for a while which I haven't done since. They aren't perfect games, but I think pokemon has always been about the experience, the endless ways to play, and what it personally means to you. Game design is still really important, but not the most important to me. X and Y was the last game to really capture the magic of the series to me, until surprisingly Scarlet and Violet which I was not expecting.

[@dmphax]

Mmm... I started with Soul Silver. I absolutely loved X and Y. To this day (have now played every main series game), X is still my favourite Pokemon game. The shiny hunting options were incredible, and I loved the story of AZ and Floette the Eternal Flower. ❤

[@cinamynj]

Will watch shortly, I have fond memories of X and Y. It was when i started competitive battling and travelled across the country to a national tournament. I remember when the game came out, I was with my friends and we all played together. Seeing the game in 3D was incredible! While it wasn't my first pokemon game, I think I can say my best memories of Pokemon are from the 6th Generation

[@thegayghost872]

I love gen 6, it's one of my all time favorites. And I think that if we had gotten a proper Pokemon Z, it would be more well remembered.

[@Angery_Octoling]

Gen 6, XY and ORAS are my favourite Pokémon games. I’ve replayed them multiple times and no other Pokémon game comes close to how Good those games are. It’s a standard for me. The only games That have come close? Souls Silver and Ultra Moon.

[@graciedudgeon4836]

X was my first game, and I sobbed when I lost it in my nanas sofa. I found it five years back and finished it as a kid (my team was god awful tho) and replayed it this year. I cried when I finished it again, and X remains my favourite after playing all the games that came after. Underrated.

[@eyzhie9096]

I remember being so hyped for this game on 2013. I was so hyped about the new trailer, the mega evolutions, and the new 3d models. And after watching so many runs of this game, I realized sure there isnt much to its story, but it definitely has one of the best aesthetics in a pokemon game.

[@SneaktheWolf]

Gen 6 are the forgotten gems and beside some lag they have some amazing nostalgia to me, the anime XYZ got me into the Pokémon franchise

[@hershmysson]

Actually played X/Y last month, it's the first pokémon game I actually finished, I just finished the main storyline for Platinum, just before the victory road. I loved X/Y it's beautiful and the world is so well made just... felt empty, the world was there but not enough memorable memories to remember it, it felt like a beautiful painting that you are left to fill the gaps.

[@itachilove15]

I feel like a great way to explain the random desert in the middle of upper Kalos would’ve been to have to be were Yveltal had done it’s thing and have a myth be that it was a forest that he had killed and it didn’t grow back.

[@TamValleyProductions]

There’s gonna be some good reasoning for that desert in my Z rewrite. Stay tuned

[@itachilove15]

@@TamValleyProductions I mean they had that key to the power point that was never used. They could’ve been where the lab was. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@DinoJake]

I've got a real soft spot for X and Y. After quitting Pokemon in middle school and missing the boat on Generations IV and V, Pokemon Y was the first pokemon game I had played in nearly ten years. WIth a regional dex that emphasized older gens over the newest one, it wound up being a good game for getting back into the franchise. It was almost like a homecoming for me.

[@adamptbVD]

I'm suprised I didn't see this video sooner, I would love a Pokémon Z video from you like you suggested. This was a great video. Love your stuff man 👍

[@TamValleyProductions]

Thanks!! More coming soon

[@yourdude4197]

Took me a while before I got hooked with Pokemon Y. Maybe because it was entirely new to my experience transitioning from DSlite to 3DS and it took me 13 years before I got to save money my very own 3DS. Maybe one big factor was that I played Alpha Sapphire to death and the nostalgia just filled me with comfort whereas Kalos felt like stepping outside my comfort zone. Good thing there were your rival and friends who accompany you on your Kalosian journey. Don’t get me started with Team Flare’s stylish poses that most likely had the same inspiration as JoJo poses(Araki used fashion magazines for references). Sometimes I find myself posing along with the flare grunts/admins before the battle starts. The soundtrack, as always, phenomenal. Maybe not as phenomenal as Gen V and ORAS but still memorable asf. Anyway, I love it for what it is.

[@SonikkuZ]

Amazing video man, I honestly resonate with a lot of your points on what you said and agree, it's sad with the amount of potential that was wasted on the game in numerous ways man, but nonetheless these games still mean a lot to me and I do love them a lot. Also, I'll be waiting on that Pokemon Z video!

[@FlopsoTheClown]

Pokemon X was my first (official) Pokemon game and though I always refer back to the Black and White anime as what got me into the series, X and Y will always hold a special place for me as the game which really kickstarted my interest in Pokemon, even if on repeat playthroughs I don't feel the same joys I felt when I was younger and didn't have any of the other games to compare it to

[@kflowdroppin4s]

This is the first video I've watched from your channel, I really enjoyed it. I like the pacing writing as well as the editing and your calming voice. I'm honestly blown away that you don't already have more subs and views but that's something i'm 100% sure will change soon if you keep at it. Great video, You've earned a new subscriber. Looking forward to watching your other stuff and hopefully getting your next uploads on my recommended tab/sub box.

[@geetika6540]

I remember being extremely invested in the x and y anime series when I was younger, it was like the most important iteration for me, but I never played the game so thank you for this video

[@thomasedwardharrison2879]

If I were to rewrite X and Y Since the legendries embody life and death, why not make Team Flare's motivation wanting to bring back their dead loved ones, with Lysander wanting to bring back his dead wife and son/daughter. He even manages to convince Shauna or Calem/Serina to battle you before you get Xerneas/Yveltal because team flare promised to bring back their dead mom/dad and siblings. However the effect of the weapon would kill thousands of Pokemon, which the main character has to stop.

[@videos43334dhdjj774h]

Gen 6 has the most narcastic story than all the other generation's even more narcastic than gen 8

[@ademirobaderna]

@@videos43334dhdjj774h whats narcastic

[@MasterAkiDraw]

Great video! XY deserves more recognition and also this game needs to go down in history of pokemon as the game that screwed over. so many content was not released and was forgotten about so quickly by it's developers.

[@somegem6344]

X and y was a milestone in the mainline pokemon franchise due to how much potential it had with the fresh new mega evolution mechanic and the story with it. It tried really hard to be a fascinatingly great story, but the condition it was in ended up causing all of this to blow up in its face and become one of the most forgettable pokemon games in history. So forgettable, that most of the pokemon that were released in gen 6 get mistaken for being released in another gen. Absolutely tragic fate for the first 3D mainline pokemon game.

[@scorpion42985]

Gen 6 was the last pokemon game I got excited for, I got into breeding and competitive play in gen 6, these games will always have a special place in my heart.

[@holaburger6075]

Honestly I'm very biased towards them cuz Y was my first Pokemon game. I know I know, I got into Pokemon very late but I absolutely loved it. Got over 300 hours on it.

[@maddon759]

This was a great retrospective, I’m definitely gonna have to go back and watch your others. That being said, after playing through Legends Arceus and having the three phase battle against Volo it’s so so great seeing difficulty being put back into the Pokémon franchise

[@NeverEndingVoid]

These are my favorite Pokemon games ever!!!!! I love the region of Kalos, the graphics, Mega evolution, and the music

[@MissBrieBiscuit]

I think my fave part was the aesthetics. The French countryside vibes, the flower patches as opposed to just grass, and the beautiful music 😍

[@eddyram4932]

I’m playing X right now while I wait for Violet. It’s one of my favorite Pokémon games. Funnily enough wonder trade is still going strong with plenty of good things given out by breeders.

[@mahfuzahmed971]

Severely underrated channel, I hope to see a few more of these long form videos, they're great when I cant sleep

[@jsschvz0]

I really liked these games and it's easier way to train Pokemon. I really feel that if it got the third Entry it deserved, it would've been more loved. Especially if it got the Black2/White2 treatment

[@frankiecedeno3724]

3:14 and that’s why it’s the best generation. It was still an easy kids game, because it’s a gross exaggeration to call ANY Pokémon game difficult, it had a real plot, and was the last time we had real post-game. Truly the fools who disliked it truly had no idea what they were going to be missing out on in the coming generations.

[@pandaman1331]

Forgotten? Never! Gen 6 was my favorite. XY are my second most favorite games after ORAS

[@TamValleyProductions]

ORAS is awesome! Love those games.

[@deci2002]

I always interpreted Snowbelle being snowy due to the Abomasnow that live there and their ability Snow Warning xD

[@darkxarth]

They’re back baby!

[@Numbnuts007]

I miss the days of booting up X and y. I got it back in my senior year of high school, several years after it came out, and right before Sun and Moon came out. It was my reintroduction to Pokémon and I fell back in love with the franchise. I miss this generation so much. If they just took the same development route that they always did and made Z, it would have been great. I really don't know why but I always felt like the story of X and y was never complete. It almost felt like they were plot threads that never really got addressed that would have gotten addressed in a Z version. I can only hope to wait for 10 years from now when they actually get around to doing Gen 6 part 2 electric boogaloo along with the 35th anniversary of Pokémon.

[@nibirumul8754]

I always felt like X and Y were kinda unfinished, with flat characters and a relative lack of things to do. Luckily Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire made up for it. I hope that once it's time to remake X and Y that they add plenty of new stuff.

[@lasercraft32]

Gen 6 is my favorite game... that's mostly because it was also my first game, but I also played Pokemon Black later as well and didn't enjoy it as much (I've also played Ultra Moon and Shield since then too). I love the game so much I've played it 4 times in the span of maybe a year. The story and message of the game is very deep imo, and hugely underrated. I just love the feel and of the Kalos region, it has its own unique charm that somehow makes it feel like the classiest Pokemon region. And Mega Evolution was the coolest mechanic of all of the new gimmicks, certainly way better than "Pokemon go big" with Dynamax... too bad they decided to make the Pokedex Entries in Gen 7 reveal that apparantly mega evolution is like torture for the Pokemon (still incredibly mad about that btw).

[@mellowkidd]

X and Y are more memorable to me than Sun And Moon. Just a whole lot of good memories with those games. Playing on Christmas Day with my brothers.

[@bumblebeeproductions1673]

“Pokémon X and Y are kind of forgotten” Pokémon Y being my first ever Pokémon game that I still have: “wait- it’s forgotten?”

[@MIGUEMIGUE123]

One idea would have been adding some sort of back story of how the power plant area of the region used to bea beautiful green meadow and the power plant turned it arid and dry could have been good to support Team Flare's idea of preserving beauty by eliminating humanity.

[@TamValleyProductions]

Stay tuned for my Pokémon Z rewrite. That desert will be a major component in the story.