I'm skipping D&P because they'd just be the same review but slightly worse. This is such a great game, I understand why it's the favourite of many, the region is vast and exciting and so many great Pokémon designs, including revisiting older mons and reimagining them with evolutions which was a great trend to start. The pacing is very weird but the narrative works and is memorable, and the gameplay is hugely (hugely) improved with the physical/special split which makes battling much more dynamic (whilst still being turn based). We're nearing peak.

These aren't my favourites. More of an expansion on Kanto, Johto feels quite lacking (something they brought more life to in the remakes). You can catch Kanto Pokémon the whole game, yet there are Johto mons that aren't available until the postgame, which takes place in Kanto. I think to me these are some of the only games in the series that feel like they lack their own identity, and it's personal preference but a lot of the Pokémon designs themselves are quite plain. Not you raikou, I love you.