Explaining modern Pokémon games

[Kai]

Aside from the aesthetic changes, new Pokemon and new features, the core gameplay remains the same.

As for the game mechanics (IV's and EV's), if I recall correctly they were in the games since Red and Blue and have adapted and evolved with each installment. They weren't necessarily designed to be manipulated for competitive use but were instead used to make each Pokemon unique. The games use a random number generator that determines a number from 1-31 for each stat in a Pokemon. These numbers are the Individual Values or IV's. So for example, let's say you caught two Pidgeys at the exact same level and raised them both to level 100 Pidgeots. They'll have different stats because they had different IV's when you caught them.

This uniqueness is further divided by Effort Values or EV's. They're the points the Pokemon gains towards a certain stat when it defeats a Pokemon. So if one of those Pidgeys battled nothing but Starlys and the other one nothing but Bidoofs they'll each be stronger in a certain stat because defeating a Starly contributes to Speed and defeating a Bidoof contribute to HP.

Natures were added in Ruby and Sapphire and multiply the the effects of IV's and EV's in a particular stat while decreasing another. Once you add all these factors together, you have a way that no two Pokemon can be the exact same. Competitive battling is nothing more than manipulating all of these mechanics to ensure you have a Pokemon that excels in a certain stat.

As for another change in the games, I like how it's less about trying to catch 'em all and giving you more things to do after the main quest. Although it makes sense with 600+ Pokemon combined with how easy it is to get the legendaries.