The peak of my interest was back in 1998. Back then, the games were more of an adventure. I went into the games fresh, that late September, not even knowing that the anime existed. I knew some faces from the commercials, but no names. I knew nothing of types, stats, badges, evolution, or even how to battle. I went in, started the game up, wandered around blindly for a few minutes before triggering the event that lead to me receiving my Squirtle. Everything was new, to me and everyone around me. I learned about the existence of most Pokemon from actually finding them myself, sometimes from my friends. They were days of rumors, where everyone would share their stories of what happened in their games the night before, some true and some false.
I remember when I first learned about Legendary Pokemon; being unable to figure out how to work Blaine's gym, wandering around blindly, exploring caverns and eventually accidentally bumping into Articuno. I remember hearing stories of something called "Mewtwo," which no one seemed to be able to confirm even existed. Rumors soon rose of a Pokemon that was said to be a great phoenix, formed by the three Legendary Birds forming together. Proof? You can see it in the first episode of the show! There was no other basis, but adventures ensued, exploring every inch of my Blue Version, trying to figure out how to combine these birds, never knowing it was fruitless, and at the same time, never caring. It wasn't a game; it was a world that begged to be explored. I have clear memories of my shock when I first discovered a Muk, amazed that I was still discovering new Pokemon at such a late stage. I remember suiciding into the Elite Four for weeks on end, slowly raising my team up, eventually managing to beat my rival, and experiencing the joy of an adventure that was only just beginning.
I daresay this wasn't even my peak, though! 100 new Pokemon!?!? This game, which I had spent the past two years mastering and exploring, was now being expanded upon! The world felt more alive than ever, mysteries being contained within the Day to Night Cycle, the ability to Headbutt trees, and Pokemon so Legendary that they would roam the world, refusing to be captured or otherwise tied down! The rumors escalated, and the adventure was reborn into its finest form.
By the time Ruby and Sapphire came out, I was beginning to... understand better. The games became among my favorite (actually, Ruby is still my personal favorite of all Pokemon games), but things started to become more calm. I approached rare Pokemon in a more business-like manner, holding excitement but no longer the pure joy and awe that I had once felt. The new Pokemon were some of my favorites, but the spectacle of an addition to the Pokedex was becoming lost. I remember attending a Deoxys event, and battling a trainer in the Union Room whose Pokemon could destroy my team despite being level 100 themselves, and I began to research Natures, EVs, IVs, movesets, type coverage, breeding, and so much more. My first ever shiny, a Girafarig, filled me with more of a feeling of excitement than wonder since I had read up on the existence of shinies outside of the red Gyarados that I had come to know. While my love for Pokemon never faded, the emotions that the franchise had filled me with back in Silver simply were no longer there, replaced with others. I began to put more time into other games, with the Pokemon franchise soon becoming, in essence, a friend that I could come back to should I need cheering up. It became my go-to for guaranteed enjoyment, but it was simply no longer what it once was to me.
In short, no. Despite Pokemon being among my favorite games of all time, my love for it peaked in Generation II, and due in large part to my greater understanding of the franchise, I have no confidence that I will ever come remotely close to that peak again.
