I do agree that the Gyms were ridiculously easy - they were easier than the pathetic leaders that HG/SS had!
Some of the gyms in Black and White can be challenging if you're team isn't set for it. As was the case for me. But yes, once your team is set for it, it's ridiculous. I am especially amazed that the last gym leader's level range isn't even in the mid 40's. Hell, I would have been happy with a level 46 Haxorus sweeping my team, if it meant something to give me a challenge!
I beat the Elite Four today, and I thought they were reasonably challenging, and the final battle was actually really hard. Especially comparing it to previous "final bosses". This might have been my fault for not having any Ice moves, but that Lv54 blue and black three-headed dragon thing (sorry I haven't learned all the names yet) was insanely overpowered - it knocked out most of my entire team in one hit, and one Dragon Pulse took out more than half of my Zekrom's HP.
Yeah, Ghetsis's Hydreigon tends to be considered hax for a whole bunch of different reasons. First being that it's at level 54 when it doesn't evolve to Hydreigon until 64. And, being of the Dark/Dragon typing means that it's quite resilient to most of what you probably used for the E4 in the first place. Assuming of course you didn't change your main team up all that much.
EDIT: Anyone else kinda wish the levels were higher? Low levels have always bugged me about G/S/C, and B/W's levels are almost as low. I mean, in R/G/B/Y the Champion goes up to Lv65
I'll be honest, first time playing Fire Red, it did actually irk me that E4 was a good 10 levels above what you fought as your last gym leader. I don't care if Victory Road was supposed to get you around there, what the hell is the idea with having the E4 start there?
I think RSE got the levels right, IMO. They were well staggered and allowed for relative ease when taking on the E4. Although... the first guy isn't really that high to begin with, but at least it goes up in decent increments.
Considering what happens there, and the massive gap between Eterna and Veilstone, that probably did something right there.
Not sure about this one though.
but in G/S/C it's only Lv50
Considering there's 2 regions, that was part of the reason they had to stagger the levels a bit.
and in B/W the "Champion" (the equivalent anyway) is only up to Lv54. (but the final boss was admittedly really hard. I restarted because I felt like I rushed the storyline, but the one trainer I faced after the E4 had a whopping Lv65 Gulpin, I felt suddenly underleveled).
For the E4, part of why it is the way it is, is because you can choose the order you want to fight them in.
Haven't fought them yet, but I do plan on doing that very soon.
edit:
And yeah, I looked up Ghetsis' team on Bulbapedia awhile back, and he definitely seems like a threat. N does, too, although mostly because I don't think my Vanilluxe will be able to deal with Zekrom.
I have a Reshiram to deal with. I think I'll manage, I just gotta be very weary about Fire Type moves... unless of course I decide to use Chandelure against it. All things considered, that may happen.
I also have a Scrafty that could probably take it out with Dragon Claw, and a Haxorus, but I'd probably have to Dragon Dance at least once to be able to take him on properly. On that note, I'm getting myself an Elektross armed with Dragon Claw.
Yeah HG/SS was...not difficult, to say the least.
Only problem I had was with Chuck. And even then, it was because of my team layout. Claire was actually easy thanks to both my Gyarados (Ice Fang is a blessing), and my Lucario (sent over from Platinum, it learned Dragon Pulse in the nick of time).
I see what you mean. Just for example, Marshall's team. His Throh Sawk, and Conkeldurr all know Stone Edge, and his Mienshao knows Rock Slide, so that pretty much eliminates any chance I have of using Victini against them. It also eliminates any chance of using a Flying-type. So yeah, it probably will be a tough fight.
I'm not entirely that worried, mind you. Both my Sigilyph and Archeops can outspeed them, except perhaps Mienshao. But I have a Serperior armed with Aerial Ace that could come in handy for that.
As much as my Scrafty is awesome, I have to admit I'm not sure how he would have fared against Hydreigon had those Focus Blasts connected. I might have simply gotten lucky, or maybe my Scrafty would have done alright regardless.
Yeah, I seem to have had good luck with my Zoroark chucking out Focus Blast... so you may have just gotten lucky. Considering a
Scraggy about 10 levels lower than my very own Scrafty can take it out using HJK, that does sort of bother me. And this is a Pokemon with surprisingly heavy Defenses.
/CL