Reflections on Kaizo IronMON

The more time passes, the more I think of Kaizo IronMON like a high school relationship. Lots of energy, fun and good memories, but little of lasting substance. People often look back on these relationships fondly, but they also realize the person wasn't right for them. Sometimes people stay in these relationships to please others, much like Kaizo IronMON streamers continue to grind seeds for viewers.

Kaizo is an upgrade from the vast majority of popular Pokemon challenges. It feels rejuvenating to run Kaizo after trying so many frustrating speedruns and low-quality ROM hacks. The excitement of being on a Kaizo run is unmatched, and the randomness offers fun replay value for all stages of the game. But after a while, the early game becomes too much of a grind, and the flaws in the midgame start to show. The game becomes unplayable without speedups or a stream chat to keep the runner sane. And the runner's improvement stagnates as they realize their decisions barely matter in the end.

There are better challenges in the Pokemon world than Kaizo IronMON. Most of them probably haven't been made or popularized yet. And until they are, Kaizo will have tremendous appeal because of its popularity across all skill levels. Personally, I think I've found something better in Skill IronMON. Others may find challenges better suited to their interests.

Many streamers make a living through Kaizo because it's great stream content. One reason it's great stream content is that it's so well known. Another reason is that many viewers are more entertained by watching a slot machine (and the streamer's reaction to hitting the jackpot) than watching a test of skill. There's nothing wrong with either of these reasons, but I think the Pokemon community would benefit from having the option to play a more substantive challenge.

In my opinion, the flaws that cause Kaizo to lack substance are:
1. Impossible early game. It takes about 8 hours on average to get a Pokemon that has any chance of being good. Worse Pokemon can provide fun content, but you aren't coming any closer to improving or beating the challenge with them.
2. Bad movesets. Because most TMs and move tutors are banned and not accessible until late in the run, it is very unlikely for any Pokemon to have a usable moveset for each crucial stage of the run. Runners must often continue runs that have no chance of winning without getting a lucky move.
3. Excessive Pokemon Center use. An optimal run uses a Pokemon Center after nearly every overworld battle. That's hundreds of center uses and lots of wasted time. It also makes these battles seem too easy for such a difficult challenge.