Gen 2 thanks to map size, 16 gyms and a rival that actually seemed to hate you. I like competition I don't want some buddy buddy experience and Id rather handle boss fights alone instead of tag teaming with an npc that defaults to a knock off Naruto face with brown hair and a pony tail. People that hate on Gen one are usually the younger players. And too whine about things that Noone noticed or cared about since there was nothing else to compare it to at the time is just silly. That's like saying the first Porsche was absolute garbage compared to the newest 918 and the first one just shouldn't have existed despite the first leading to the eventual existence of the newest model. As the games have progressed they've gotten easier and easier and dumbed down everything from fights to the length of caves. Crystal specifically was my favorite of Gen 2, only games I didn't play were bw/bw2 mostly cause the graphics gave me a headache. There's been plenty of welcome additions over time but the rivals/friends don't make me feel challenged at all. Hell this gen the "friend" picks the weaker starter and there are cutscenes out the ass. Diamond amd pearl didn't really have much that stood out to me other than the underground. Edit and why the hell does the friend always heal you before you fight? May was your friend in rse she didn't heal shit. They baby the players so hardcore it's embarrassing.