Picking a game...

[DisturbedHaxorus]

Hello,
Sort of a "new member post" here, so here goes. I haven't really played anything since generation III, and I recently decided to get back on the Poketrain; started to look into which gen 4 or 5 game to buy (I only want one right now). I need advice.
What I really want is HG or SS because I'm somewhat familiar with the mechanics/map/etc. and really love the Johto region, but those games can't get Haxorus :p
Should I go ahead and get one of them, or buy a five-gen game so I can get the awesome axe-dragon?
Basically, which of these two wants do people think is better? And no, I can't get X or Y. Don't have a 3DS.

[Richard and Blaziken]

HGSS were fantastic games, even coming from someone that didn't like GSC, so I'd highly recommend them. I'd personally suggest avoiding Diamond, Pearl and Platinum... I find them to be the worst games in the series. B/W/B2/W2 were good too though, so it really comes down to whether you want a new experience  or a familiar one with new things added.

[Delicious_Scout]

HGSS were fantastic games, even coming from someone that didn't like GSC, so I'd highly recommend them. I'd personally suggest avoiding Diamond, Pearl and Platinum... I find them to be the worst games in the series. B/W/B2/W2 were good too though, so it really comes down to whether you want a new experience  or a familiar one with new things added.

I beg to disagree with those. Fourth Generation is my personal favourite generation. If most of the users around hate it is because of Chimchar.

Both generations have already separation between physical and special hits no matter the type. If you are worried because of Giga Drain's poor power or due to the fact N will turn everyone into a hippie, go with White or White 2. Otherwise, I would still recommend HG or SS because of their features (also, LEGENDARIES EVERYWHERE), whereas Sinnoh ones are less... agile in that aspect, and the nostalgia effect plays a big role as well.

[Richard and Blaziken]

I hate DPPt for many more reasons than Chimchar, I'm not that shallow. I find them to be boring, awful games. I'm sure some agree, and others disagree, but Chimchar isn't the reason.

[Inferna]

Yeah I agree with Richard, 4th gen was probably my least favourite gen too. If you were to get a 4th gen game then get platinum. Everything is 'quicker' gameplay wise, there's more pokemon etc.
Hgss is amazing, probably my favourite game in the series actually!
The decision about b/w or b/w2 just comes down to if you want non 5th gen pokemon, a larger map and a better story. B/w are good games, they have that sense of newness so b/w2 just improves that.

[SaRo|Rapidash]

I'd suggest HGSS too, it's got the most in imo.

DPPt will make you want to kill yourself because most generations fill caves with Zubats, but this one has a mountain full of Bronzor/Bronzong which are actually bulky xD

BW is a little.... Lacking. Like after you finish the main story there's very little to do, and in the main story only gen V pokemon are available

BW2 is okay, but I wouldn't say it's better than HGSS, and it's probably a little more expensive for what it matters.

HGSS has 16 gyms instead of 8, 2 regions, Lance (....yes, that is a reason) & A pretty hard boss battle in Red, who has slightly overlevelled mon

[Spriter]

Man why are you all hating so hard on DPPT, the plot (especially Platinum's plot) was excellent, the music in general was very good...and we all know how hard Cynthia was *glares at Garchomp*

I would most definitely say HGSS, they were very good, solid remakes of GSC. They retained the Suicune plot with Eusine and such, which was a nice touch. That, and post-E4, there is a load of things to do. It's still a very good choice to play, but do be wary that the Pokemon are poorly-levelled throughout Johto, which can make it tricky to start in Kanto and to train up for Red without E4 grinding. A Scizor will help loads against Red though

BW was a nice refresher, and the Team Plasma plot is a newer take on villains in Pokemon. BW2 makes them very much like Team Rocket though :/

Both BW/BW2 are very solid games to choose, but overall, HGSS is incredible.

[Hahex and Oshawott]

whaaaat DPPt were incredible! Nice selection of new pokemon, good range of environments, non-linear map (im looking at you, Unova and Kalos). It actually had some solid post-game content as well, with the whole battle frontier and the Heatran mountain. Outside of battles, it still had a good contest mechanic and poffin making as well. Multiplayer-wise, the Underground and Secret Bases are all good stuff. 

DPPt will make you want to kill yourself because most generations fill caves with Zubats, but this one has a mountain full of Bronzor/Bronzong which are actually bulky xD

As if HGSS doesn't have a load of caves that are filled with zubats as well

I guess what I'm trying to say is that, even if you think that DPPt aren't the best games out of the main pokemon games, that by no means make them awful. Anyway, honestly if you've already played through GSC, then there's not a lot of "new" stuff. Sure, there's the updated graphics and nostalgia factor, but almost everything in BW is new and fresh. There's none of the old pokemon in the Unova region, so unless you desperately want to go catch and use the same pokemon that you would've used already, I would reccomend trying out something new. I'd get the original BW rather than BW2, because there's a lot of references to previous games, and there's not much different gameplay-wise to justify getting BW2 over BW.

[SaRo|Rapidash]

As if HGSS doesn't have a load of caves that are filled with zubats as well

That's what I'm saying xD I said every game has Zubats in caves, which is annoying, but Bronzors/zongs are equally annoying but actually take a while to kill xD

[Turner]

If you want to get back on the Poketrain really you should just play them all. I think each gen makes reference to previous gens in small ways that make no sense without the context of the gen before.

If you're struggling with the mechanics then maybe it's best to start with HG/SS but you should definitely play D/P/Pt too, followed by BW, BW2 and then X/Y. Gen IV was excellent and I personally don't believe we've had a region since that encouraged so much exploration, everything since Sinnoh has been at least a little bit too linear.

[Liam]

Platinum was really good, if you want to go for a gen 4 game, play it as well as HG/SS. Really, it's good fun.

[Ya-Yah]

Aww I liked DPPt Especially Platinum, I thought Cyrus was one of the first really twisted villains but fair enough.

I've loved all of the games although to varying degrees. I do think HGSS is a good one to get back into the series though. My little brother used to watch me play Gen III games and played LG a few times but he didn't get his own until HGSS. And now he loves the series so I guess that would be a good starting point 

[DisturbedHaxorus]

Well, turns out White 2 was the only game I could get on amazon under $25 (had to use a gift card), so I'll start enjoying that in 3-5 business days. Thanks for the advice everyone; when I next get the chance to buy these games, Platinum and/or Soul Silver will likely be my first choice. Unfortunately though, since I'll be getting my new game after the 20th, I won't be able to participate in wifi events until I can afford a 3DS. Damn, I was really looking forward to Porygon-Z...

[OpalRhea]

Honestly, considering you won't be getting it until wi-fi servers are shut down, get a DS emulator and download the ones you want to try. You won't be able to use wi-fi, but that's already pretty much out of the picture

[Richard and Blaziken]

Pretty sure you're not allowed to suggest that on the forum, and it also means the can't eventually PokeTransfer and PokeBank his Pokemon to 6th gen.