I replayed Yellow when it hit the 3DS and yup, it's a classic game and deserves to be ranked among the best 90s JRPGs.
It still does some things better than most Pokémon games. The dungeon design is intricate with worthwhile rewards and provides a genuine challenge. Compare Silph Co., a mid game dungeon, to any dungeon that's been in Pokémon in the last decade. Silph Co. has a unique traversal system with the warps and spin panels, optional areas filled with useful items, unique rewards like Lapras and the Master Ball, and culminates with a challenging boss battle. It's everything you want a dungeon to be in an RPG.
It also has a sense of openness. It's not an open world game, but feels like it at times. You'll eventually hit a roadblock if you venture too far off, but you can get a lot further than one would think. It's also a bit unpredictable how you travel to each area. Instead of going around in a perfect circle or following a line, you are bouncing around all over the map in unexpected ways.
It's not just nostalgia, it's good game design. It's incredible that they fit this all on the Game Boy.
This is another aspect I wanted to touch on but felt it too early to bring up as I've only done Viridian Forest. I recall as a kid that the dungeons were real shit so when I played modern Pokemon games I was so confused. But now that I'm playing this I get it now. I'm not saying this is a hardcore dungeon crawler or anything but this is far more survival oriented than any modern Pokemon. Because my Pikachu was around level 7 and obviously the highest leveled Pokemon, I swapped out my other Pokemon to have turns getting XP as I explored the forest. Got my Manky and some other Pokemon to level 5/6 and then by the end of the dungeon my party is exhausted, I have one potion, no Pokeballs, and little cash. There's only final trainer to fight and he's got a level 10 Caterpee if I recall, which is way above my other Pokemon's levels. I manage to beat him, bleeding profusely. I make it to town by running from every single fight, managing to successfully get away with zero potions on my belt.
That Pokemon Center healing jingle never felt so sweet.
And just like that, I fell in love with Pokemon again.
I saw Mt. Moon on the side and I'm already getting tingly. The music is stuck in my head. I'll tackle it tomorrow and report back.