Revisiting Kanto - Cerulean City Is Saved By The Areas Around It

thegamer.com:

If you've been a regular visitor on my travels across Kanto, you'll know that last week's stop in Cerulean City is the most disappointed I've been on my journey yet. If you're just joining me now, here's a quick catch up - I'm currently in the midst of revisiting Kanto (hence the title) as less of a Pokemon trainer and more of a tourist. I'm not interested in the battling and catching (although to progress, I still need to participate), so much as I am in the sights, the stories, and the world building. That's why the surprisingly empty Cerulean was so disheartening. Thankfully, the surrounding filigree of the town more than makes up for it, and underlines how key battling is to fully appreciating Pokemon's world.

So far, I have not discussed any of my party, any battles beyond 'yep, beat Brock', or anything surrounding the catching of Pokemon. If anything, I have actively pushed back against this idea, finding ways to explain my conquests without the need for victory in combat. While my focus will remain on the places I go rather than the trainers I pulverise, the surrounding areas of Cerulean have made me see that I was wrong to view the gameplay and the setting as opposite ends of a spectrum. In fact, they are all part of a larger whole.

Related: Revisiting Kanto: Why Pewter City Is A Hidden Slice Of Pokemon Paradise

The first area that deserves our focus is Nugget Bridge. In terms of raw design, it is just a bridge. Just a little bit of uninteresting pathway that leads from our dull city to a patch of grass. Yawn. Add Pokemon into the mix though, and it becomes a gauntlet to greatness. Assuming you don't Torchicken out and heal yourself in between battles, this succession of trainers is your biggest test so far.