Pokémon Black and White Aesthetic are great and lack-luster on the same time. Let’s start with the biggest offender, attacks, more specifically, the animation for the attacks. There is none, an Earthquake from a Magikarp is the same as any other Pokémon in the game.
Is this some kind of "Magikarp" joke? Well, it's not a good one, because Splash mops the floor with earthquake. /sarcasm
Battle Mechanics
The current battle mechanics in Pokémon SUCKS, it’s dated and outclassed. Where does it suck and how can it be improved?
I’ll start with the base mechanics to completely get rid of.
1. Accuracy, get rid of it completely!
2. Chances of X happening, GET RID OF IT COMPLETELY!
3. Battle Items, get RID of IT completely!
First: Even though accuracy can be aggravating, it would make Pokémon overpowered with their Blizzard, Focus Blast, Thunder, Hurricane, Dynamic Punch etc. There are certain moves that can guarantee 70% moves to hit targets without fail, such as Rain Dance.
Second: You want to eliminate ailment/critical ratios because you got unlucky in a triple battle. It's like you're asking Game Freak to take away luck from battles.
Third: If you want battle items gone, then you must want the Wonder Launcher gone, too. I think people would be unhappy with that loss.
Launcher eliminated, too. I think people would be sad to see it go.
Dodging and blocking in battles is self-explanatory, depending on the attack, depends on how effective the dodge and block attack is. Volt Tackle is an attack move where as High Jump Kick is a dodge counter move, Volt Tackle misses and High Jump Kick hits. Even though moves are classified as counter and block moves, if they don’t meet the conditions, say, High Jump Kick vs. Hydro Pump, it will still play out regularly. This means blocks and counter moves won’t fail, they just won’t have extra effects.
Why would Hi Jump Kick be a counter move when it has a 50% health recoil? Even the anime shows Pokémon hurting themselves with Hi Jump Kicks. Priority moves, such as Quick Attack, would be good enough to be dodge counter moves.
Counters have an effectiveness level, I'd like to put the effectiveness level into tiers.
Depending on the attack and the counter tier depends on the outcome. For example, say Flamethrower is a tier 2 ranged attack, for a Pokemon to successfully block it; they must have a counter move tier of 2 or above. Bubble is a tier 2 block counter, meaning that Flamethrower attack damage will be greatly reduced and the popped bubbles will create steam, cleansing the Pokemon of status reductions.
Speaking of steam, did you know that ice and fire create steam when they collide?
The effectiveness of certain moves can also be affected by distance. Like Hydropump losses some power if the Pokemon is too far, same goes if it’s to close. Whereas Flame Charge gains power the farther away the Pokemon is. Thunder at close range will result in a paralyze. Dragon Pulse from far away will result in a critical. Picking the Pokemons position should be simplified; by pressing a certain button, players can use the Touch screen to manually select where the Pokemon should go before it attacks. Pokemons Leg power (explained below) should affect how far a Pokemon can move as well. Pokemon cannot phase through one another, so a large Pokemon size can shorten the distance the other Pokemon can travel. For example, the players Emboar will have hard time getting distance to increase damage for Flame Charge against a Steelix.
All Pokémon battles have the same distances between opponents. It seems as though you want in-game battles to mirror the anime. What you've said made sense, but it's a simple kids game, and most E rated games don't follow realism.
Pokemon Stats Revamp
I would remove special attacks and physical attacks completely along with their defensive counter parts.
Each Pokemon will have a body chart showing their stats connected to the body part.
The moves power will be based off the body part used (ex. High Jump Kick on Hitmonlee will do more damage compared to Mienshao's; but Mienshao Drain Punch will do more damage compared to Hitmonlees but Drain Punch on Hitmonchan will do more damage than all 3 of them)
Depending on the Pokemon, depends on the number of moves it can learn. Types of moves can be limited as well. (ex. Typhlosion can learn 2-3 attacks, 1-2 status and 2-3 counter moves, Kingler can learn 2-3 attacks, 1 status and 1-2 counter moves, Bronzong can learn 1-2 attacks, 2-4 statuses and 4-5 counter moves)
Skills will still have their base power, however, the game will show how much a Pokemon can benefit from it. For example this Feraligator can know 2-3 attacks, 1-2 status and 2-3 counters, maxing at 6 total moves; Feraligator’s ability is Strong Jaws, it adds 2 tiers to bite moves and ranged special moves’ damage is not decreased by distance:
Feraligator Attack Power chart:
Head = 90 power
Arm = 65 power
Legs = 60 power
Body = 80 power
Tail = 90 power
Special = 70 power
This idea seems original and sophisticated. The only thing that's wrong with it is, increasing the number of moves for a Pokémon up to 6. It would probably take away a lot challenge, and make Pokémon battles last too quickly.
Small change to Abilities
Lastly, abilities. On some Pokemon, for example, Chandelure can’t levitate, which is very odd because it’s faster than Pokemon with legs. Flygon has wings but it’s levitates? This is a simple fix; give certain Pokemon a natural ability (Levitate) along with its other ability. Natural Abilities should be obviously visible in battle, Flygon is up in the air, Earthquake cannot hit, simple as that.
That makes sense to me. Chandelure never touches the ground, and yet it can take hits from ground-types. Gengar has legs on the ground, and it's got earthquake immunity. Natural abilities are fine by me, I don't see why not.
Removal of Held-items
Why get rid of battle items? If you add the depth into the battle mechanics, there is no need for them. Not that they’re too bad. They do allow for very unfair strategies (F.E.A.R.) and they’re atmosphere breaking, Heatran weighs 948.0lbs, yet he can be lifted INTO THE AIR BY A SINGLE FREAKING BALLON?! If GameFreak was going to take Pokemon into next generation and deepen the battle system, there will be no need for held items.
Again, most E rated games don't follow realism. That being said, the games do not equal to the anime, nor do they have to.
Tell me what you think below! Oh, almost forgot, LET US USE THE POKEDEX IN BATTLE. To see types and Pokemon's strengths, this is mainly for beginners. Honestly I don't know why GameFreak won't add it.
Well, that's another idea to make the games mirror the anime.
Bulbapedia is the worldwide PokéDex for anyone who wants to know weaknesses and whatnot.
Your post is a yes and a no. I'd like to see natural abilities and body charts, but Shiny Pokémon stay. Shinies have more than one purpose; they can either act as trophies, or EV trained opponents in competitions.