So Johto to me is just a better Kanto in every way. It has better Pokemon designs, better character designs, and better world building. And it seems like the creators thought that too. See, the games that house the Johto region also let you explore the Kanto region once you beat the main story. With that being said, let’s take a look at the Johto region.
The Region Itself
The Johto region has way better map design than Kanto. For one, it looks a lot more natural, and doesn’t have random paths stemming from nowhere that make it look unnatural. Everything, while still quite geometric pathing-wise, still looks believable.
The towns and cities are also more populated. They feel like liveable places and with the addition of the day/night cycle it makes the buildings light up and just adds that little bit more realism to the world.
But with the region being better, let’s see if the characters that inhabit it have improved as well.
The People of Johto
Whitney is a Normal type Gym Leader of the Goldenrod City Gym. She’s known for her Miltank, which gave many people facing her a haunting memory. Personally, I didn’t have any more trouble with her than I did with any other Gym Leader. Her design is very clean, with some motifs working well with her Ace Pokemon. Namely, the white and pink colour scheme matching Miltank’s palette, and her hair looking somewhat like ears and her darker socks and shoes representing hooves. Her clothes are somewhat normal compared to others, which are fitting for her type specialty.
Score: 7/10
Morty is runs the Ghost type Gym in Ecruteak City. In the games he’s in, there aren’t many Ghost type Pokemon, so he only has Pokemon from one evolution line. His Ace is a Gengar.
The remakes of Pokemon Gold and Silver, like the rest of the Pokemon remakes, redesigned all the characters. Some were slight, like Whitney. Others, like Morty, are practically new characters altogether. I really like the redesign of Morty, as it fits a Ghost type trainer a lot more. The pale yellow and blue would be fine for, say, and Electric or Water type specialist. I just don’t really think “spooky spectral being” when I see baby blue. The darker palette and the scarf with a bloody red tip make the whole design work. His hair even fits better, adding wavy tufts instead of just being a mullet.
Score: (Original) 2/10 (Redesign) 8/10
The Dragon type Gym Leader of Blackthorn City, Clair is the last person you face before the Elite Four. She fits her role well. Her design is reminiscent of a Dragonair, with light blue and darker blue scale-like patterns. Her hair is very whimsical and it looks very arcane. This is because her Ace Pokemon is Dragonair. I mean, in the original games she has three of them! Clair claims to be the best Dragon Master ever, and refuses to accept that you beat her until you navigate the Dragon Den. She has a really solid design, personality, and backstory and it all just fits really well together.
Score: 8/10
Karen is the Dark type Elite Four member of the Johto Indigo League. Her Ace Pokemon is a Houndoom. Gabi Johns, a student at Dodge City High School, said she was a “modestly endowed woman.” I’d say that statement isn’t true nor false. Anyways, she is actually very kind for being a specialist in the “evil” type. I think she’s purposely a sexy character to help represent her Dark type, as the few other Dark type trainers could represent the deadly sins. We’ll get into them later, but Karen could represent Lust. I think that’s neat.
Kaine Officially Rates All Pokemon Generations 