As much as I love SuMo, I feel like there was a
lot of problems with Pokemon distribution.
First of all, there's the way the Pikipek and Yangoos lines were just shoved down your throat. Between the two of them, the only routes that you
can't encounter either one are Route 5 and Routes 12-14. In a region with 17 routes, 13 of them have the same Pokemon, over and over. (And, of course, because they're "common" Pokemon, they have high encounter rates) They have solid designs, but there's nothing so interesting about them that I would want to see them a million times over. It makes it hard to enjoy other Pokemon-why bother seeking out new Pokemon when I know I'm going to see the same ones a dozen times before finding something new?-and doesn't show off the Pokemon's skills at all. Nobody wants to battle all those wild Pokemon-they're just going to flee. They could show these Pokemon being "common" far better by using them more often in the overworld, and by including them in trainer battles (and using more skill with them so they're seen as actual threats). High encounter rates on the same Pokemon across the entire region is just a nuisance.
And, in a similar vein as those two, Magikarp. Magikarp's encounter rate in fishing never falls below 50%, and can reach as high as 79%. Did you want to use some of the new aquatic Pokemon introduced in these games? Game Freak advises you to put such foolish thoughts out of your mind, and use Magikarp, the Pokemon that's been around for twenty years. I understand in fan games when there's a common fishing Pokemon-they have a much smaller dex-but out of 133 Water-types, we get the same Pokemon in every fishing spot, taking priority over all others?
And we have the problem of how many new Pokemon just get shoved to the side.
- The Jangmo-o line can only be found in a certain path of grass in one area, and after the last trial, no less. (And if it's done to keep a pseudo-legendary out of player's hands until later, why can Beldum and Bagon be found so much sooner?)
- Dhelmise, a fantastic and unique design, is barely seen in the game at all. You might not even know it exists until you see Acerola use it in her Elite Four battle. And where do you find Dhelmise? Fishing, of course, where Magikarp has 50% encounter chance.
- Mimikyu gets put on display at its Totem Battle, but it's near impossible to find in the abandoned mart, with only a 5% encounter rate. (and this is the only location it can be found) Where does 80% of the encounter chances go to? Why, to the two-decade-old Golbat and Haunter, of course!
- Thinking of adding a Sandyghast to your team? Good luck with that-Sandyghast is found in one location, and shares its encounter method with Starmie, who sucks up a greedy 80% chance.
