Reviewing Every Pokemon Battle Gimmick 

Which mechanic do you like best and why is it (probably) Mega Evolution?

I definitely am biased to Mega Evolution, but I can admit that Mega Evolution was distributed to a bunch of Pokemon that didn't really need it, hard looking at you Rayquaza.

I feel like the big reason why people want mega evolution back and why it hurt so much that it was taken out is because it was the frist time a feature was introduced into the battle system and then just taken away later. It would be like if they took away abilities in gen 4 or held items in gen 3. It felt like a new addition to the battle system and not just a gimmick

The best “gimmick” that’s stuck around is regional variants. And now that we see that they probably will stick around permanently, I think people are much more invested in them than anything else besides new Pokémon

Something I miss that wasn’t mentioned: Gems. They aren’t as talked about but it was one of the reasons why Acrobatics was used a lot in Gen 5. It is comparable to Z-Moves yet more than one Pokemon can use Gems in a single battle, compared to the one time use of Z-moves.

I'm gonna agree with you. Lore-wise I prefer megas, but I'm tired of all these onw-time gimmicks. It feels like the instant they started to introduce gimmicks, other features like postgame and story have been ignored greatly.

For many Pokémon, Mega evolution. It helped Sceptile, Charizard, Sableye, Latias, Kangaskhan, and Mawile get out of PU.

I really liked Mega and wish it stuck around. Mewtwo getting any Megas tho let alone 2? People complain about Charizard but always ignore this one which 100x worse in my eyes. And as always, poor Flygon.

I like how he criticizes how some mega evolutions just add hair then he says seconds later he likes mega ampharos. Also, mega sabeleye is super simplistic with the only difference is that his gem is bigger.

In terms of balance I'd probably go with z moves but mega evolutions will always be my favorite gimmick at least for now, maybe Scarlett and Violet will change that

Honestly Mega Evolution is my favorite gimmick. But I just wish for at least one generation where there’s no gimmick and it’s just traditional Pokémon battling.

God Tier Thumbnail.

Elio dabbing in the thumbnail got me LMAO

I love the little dances/poses characters do for their Z Moves, it's just so charming and cute. Maybe Z Moves are why I actually like the Alola protags haha

The ultimate buff, was ultimately cross gen evolutions. But they could've still done it alongside the new buffs and gimmicks. Like really, Turtanator could've been a great evolution to Torkoal, and others really, really need it too.

Man, mega evolutions were so cool and exciting when they dropped but honestly giving them to Pokémon who didn’t need them essentially was the downfall for it

I think the reason that Mega Evolution is still my favorite is because I felt like a natural extension of the battle mechanic gameplay and lore: A temporary transformation once per game that allows the Ace Pokemon you bonded with to become even stronger, regardless of how strong they were in their base form. it just feels like the natural next stage to a whole series that's about bonding with your pokemon. Truly, dynamax and gigantamax are what Mega Evolution should have been mechanically: every Pokemon gets a powered up state but only some can transform. Mega Evolution could have been as widely distributed, had they stuck with it and simply made small revisions, like they've done with other battle mechanics. but I think the reason dynamax gets more flack, outside of just being from a generation that took away Pokemon, is because it does just sort of feel like diet Mega Evolution.

Megas were still the best to me, and honestly, the exclusivity was my favorite part. I know that for a lot of people their favorite Mons didn’t get one, but something about having a rare stone for your favorite Pokémon to reach a power further beyond was really cool to me! It helped form an even stronger bond with my Sceptile (my favorite Pokémon even before ORAS) as I felt like it was a reward for our friendship. I feel like a certain level of self insert and rp is important to fully enjoy a Pokémon game, and with Megas, it really made each Mon I had that had one feel more special than the rest of their kind.

I loved Megan evolution because it made worthless Pokemon useful. Like Lopunny. Lopunny was my favorite pokemon in gen 4 and I always had one on my team, but I didn't realize why it sucked so bad (I was like, 10 and didn't know about stats), but with mega evolution I could actually use a Lopunny on my team.

I think the way to fix Mega Evolution was implemented perfectly in Mystery Dungeon DX One item, empowerment seed, that absolutely any Pokémon can use for a power boost. And when used on a Pokémon that can mega evolve, it does that instead. Just put that in the main games. An item that lets every Pokémon power up, say +20 to every stat besides HP, and has a specific effect on mega capable Pokémon. Of course keep adding more Megas. Thus you solve the problem of having to hunt for 50 mega stones across a region.

Mega Evolution is the best, no doubt, although it's handling could've been better, like certain Pokémon which didn't need a mega evo getting one, while some other megas were made too powerful, and likewise, there were megas which were made pretty weak. Z-Moves are kinda weird, on the one hand every Pokémon has acces to them, which arguably makes them more balanced than megas from the get go, but has the stigma of being what replaced megas, which are just more cool as a concept. And even then certain Pokémon got acces to unique Z-Moves, so some Pokémon did get the special treatment just like it happened with certain megas. Dynamax is simply the worst by a number of reasons: The worst concept, ie Pokémon simply getting bigger as opposed to getting a new form (I'll mention Gigantamax in a bit), the worst mechanics as they are the most unbalanced, ie gaining 3 turns in which all moves basically turn into Z-Moves and have ridiculous secondary effects to boot, and the worst of all are the Gigantamax forms which are basically Megas.

Overall, I agree with alot of the stuff you mention in the video. I think if this wasn't a franchise that sold itself every other year, it could have had really fleshed out gimmicks like they do in some fan games. Instead, they've been looking for single use gimmicks that they aren't willing to push any further. I'm still peeved that they aren't being consistent with how they handle their remakes (like how there's mega evolution in Hoenn but not in Sinnoh) and am not surprised if the next games gimmick is gonna be another one off. Predictions: it's gonna be through the power of friendship Usable outside of Gyms Will change at most the colour of pokemon Will change type Will have something to do with food And will have a new ability. And your rival is going to be better at using it, real rival status, hopefully. maybe. I wish. ...and Charizard will have a special version of it

I'd probably give it to Z Moves. They're well implemented lore wise and mechanically, give most things some new flavor and don't really feel super obtrusive. Megas are a great idea, but weren't used to make lacking mons better (most of the time) and really just felt like they were playing favorites. Dynamax feels like an awkward melding of the two that somehow managed to fall even flatter imo.

Z Moves were the best gimmechanic. Flashy Cinematics, accessible to every Pokémon, one time Power boost that you had to use wisely, well integrated into the plot and culture of the region, ... I will die on this hill!

That dab in the thumbnail XD

The Gmax designs are really cool, but they don't have the same oomph as megas since they aren't stronger and only last 3 turns. Plus they are very likely not returning.

D-/G-max is my favorite so far. Its G-designs, move animations and its inclusion with raid battles and seclusion to important battles made it feel grandiose and actually important to the game unlike Megas that rarely appeared and Z-moves that were in abundance but not even required for any battle, or wouldn’t even be seen in big battles. Hope Tera Type gets the same treatment of representation in gyms and important trainer battles since it also gets Raid Battles to itself tooz

Hot take: from a gameplay standpoint, I think Dynamax is the best one. Design wise, it's not really interesting, but conceptually, having the ability to have any of your Pokémon be your "ace" and build around them is amazing

It’s definitely Z Moves for me. Love the intensity they’re given with (most) names/animations despite the admittedly goofy dances. They also have the best lore and impact on its region. Status Z Moves giving usually garbage moves like Hold Hands a niche is great. The anime also makes me more engaged with them. After that Megas are decent with hit or miss designs and balance. I heavily dislike Dynamax and the only redeeming feature are some GMax forms.

Z Crystals also appear on side routes, encouraging exploration to fill out the type chart by going off the beaten track.

10:41 I was hoping you’d bring that up. As a VGC player, I very much agree with Dynamax being more suitable for Doubles than Singles

So I've been thinking about this myself for a while, and after gathering my thoughts here's how I feel about each one. Mega Evolution - Out of the three this is probably my favourite to use and I feel it is the most interesting and most natural idea out of the three. The idea of the bond between trainer and Pokémon allowing them to surpass natural evolution feels like a natural step forward of Pokémon’s themes. Plus, it gives previously weak Pokémon a chance to shine, while also providing a fresh experience for some old favourites. Depending on whether the Pokémon’s type, ability or stats change after Mega Evolving it adds another layer of on WHEN in the battle you should Mega Evolve, along with whether or not Mega Evolution is worth sacrificing an item slot and whether or not you should have multiple Pokémon that can Mega Evolve or not in a team comp. It also has the most longevity of the mechanics, making appearances in all mainline Gen VI and VII games and as such has appeared in the most regions (Kanto, Hoenn, Kalos, and Alola). It even appears in much more spin-off games such as Mystery Dungeon, Pokkén Tournament, Pokémon GO and more, compared to the other two as well. That being said I feel its execution is handled the worst. Out of the three, it’s the most restricted since out of the current 902 Pokémon, only 46 can Mega Evolve. Not only that but its implementation in the games feels more like an extra for multiplayer rather than an integral core of the experience, with most games shoving aside most if not all Mega Stones and Mega Evolution trainers until the late or post-game. And while I spoke earlier about strategy most of the time, you’re just gonna Mega Evolve turn 1 and go for the sweep. Especially with mon’s like Mega Scizor and Mega Beedrill which by all accounts are exactly the same as the originals but with higher stats making it illogical for you not to just Mega unless either: a. You have another Pokémon on your team which can Mega Evolve and you might want to save it for that one, or b. You wanna play mind games with your opponent. TLDR: Most interesting, weakest execution. Z-Moves - Honestly the opposite of everything I said for Mega Evolution. Z-Crystals feel like a much better reward for completing challenges than Gym Battles and out of battle HM use, allowing every single Pokémon a chance to deliver a once-per-battle super move that can turn the tide of battle if used at the right moment. But honestly…that’s all it really is. A move with a high base power and no secondary effects aside for some exclusive to certain Pokémon. And considering you have to give up a held item to use it, it’s the one that I think about the least. Not at all bad, and definitely fun to use during the Island Challenge and main playthrough, but not something I miss too much. TLDR: Best execution, least useful. Dynamax - And going from either a Super form OR a Super move, to a Super form AND a Super move. Out of the three Dynamax is probably the one I feel I use the most, mainly because it’s the only one that can be used without needing a special item. In terms of game implementation, I feel it’s implemented better than Mega Evolution but not as high as Z-Moves. I do like how its reserved for special power spot areas, appearing just enough for it to feel special. Though it doesn’t have the reward factor of collecting a Z-Crystal nor the sudden strategy changing mindset of a Mega Pokémon. However, unlike Z-Moves, D-Max moves have game-changing secondary effects. Instigating weather and terrain, stat-boosts and drops, G-Max moves applying niche effects like binds or gravity. You only get three moves, but you can do a lot with those three moves. Though there is one aspect of Dynamax which I love; out of the three mechanics it feels like the best at shutting down a sweep. Between the massive boost to HP allowing a Pokémon to take an otherwise fatal hit and the power of D-Max and G-Max moves blowing up an enemy’s health bar. Dynamax has saved me and my opponent countless times. And I love that. Pokémon at its core is a game all about probabilities and pressing the A button. And being in a no-win situation where one Pokémon so much faster and stronger than the enemy team is frustrating when I’m up against it, and boring when I’m the one doing it. But yeah, this leads to the biggest issue. Out of the three Dynamax requires the least thought to use. For three turns you become a strong, bulky kaiju that destroys everything. You’ll either use it and do massive damage, or waste it and carry on with the rest of the battle. It has a lot of upsides and not too many downsides. Oh and Gigantamax Pokémon. They’re okay. There’s even fewer of them than Mega’s and they’re even more difficult to get so I have very little experience with them and as such have very little to say about them. Some of them look neat though. TLDR: Most useful, least interesting.

Mega Evolutions made broken Pokémon even more broken. Especially in competitive. Competitive battles became a game of “who can get their mega properly setup the quickest and then sweep?” Z-Moves were great because every Pokémon could use them. They were great counters to tanky Megas, sweepers and set up Pokémon. Also, previously useless moves could be used to buff stats. However, they became broken when certain Pokémon were given their own special Z-moves. Most of these moves were a guaranteed OHKO and were able to change the momentum of a competitive battle in an instant. Although, Z-moves + Megas did create an interesting environment within competitive and allowed players to have incredibly diverse teams with Pokémon that filled specific niches with either a Z-move or their Mega. Dynamax/Gigantamax tried to balance the game by allowing every Pokémon to either D-Max or G-Max but this just made insanely broken Pokémon even more broken. The one great thing that it did, was make previously underused Pokémon a bit more viable. Clefairy became a staple in most double battles and setting up became a lot easier. You could send in a Mon, D-Max, boost your sides speed, Attack, and Defense and then sweep your opponents team. However, doubling HP and essentially turning every single move into a Z-Move/Z-Status move is too much for 1 single Pokémon to be able to do for 3 turns. Again, competitive suffered and whichever player could hold off using their D-Max/G-Max the longest, would be able to come in, transform and then sweep. This is just my 2 cents. Hopefully Gen 9 fixes the crazy imbalances that D-Max brought and introduces a gimmick that EVERY Pokémon has access to and EVERY Pokémon will be able to somewhat benefit from it.

I like Mega Evolution the best. It just felt the most creative and unique compared to a one-turn nuke and kaiju.

I like this new approach, JPR! It makes us closer with you!!!

Keep up the good work! I appreciate your videos, and I like the new intro! I agree showing your face makes it feel more engaging, and it also seems to have a different cadence than your typical intro.

I enjoyed the impact GMax made with the gym leaders and imo, the best soundtrack out of any game since the crowd is involved. Second would be the Z moves cause I’m a sucker for over the top animations like in anime. Mega evolutions were weak cause only a few mons could actually use it.

Z-Moves since they were actually story relevent and have a better reason why they won’t return since Z-Moves are tied to the Alola Region, I would have said Mega Evolution if it was a constant feature up until Sw/Sh and maybe Legends, also Dyna/Gigantimax is Megas on a timer without the advent of new types and abilities to make it worth using.

Mega evolution will always hold a special place in my heart. Mega evolution was the beginning of Pokémon power up mechanics, the others are just trying to be the next mega evolution.

Elio dabbing in the thumbnail reminded me that dabbing was a thing when Sun and Moon came out. At the time I would have been mad if it was used for a Z-move but now I think it would be funny.

I love z-moves! It's cool that no pokemon feels left out cuz then everyone can use their favorite. I also don't mind the animations since I feel like zmoves are usually the last move on a battle, so it feels nice to have a cool last move.

I think Dynamax was a great edition to competitive and ranked mode and I don't find it particularly broken at all. It opens up a lot more strategic choices and decisions.

"I hate that Charizard got two megas. It's so unfair and clearly biased' Mewtwo with two megas:... Rayquaza that can use items while mega evolving:...

I’d like G-max a lot more if it weren’t exclusive to gen 1 and 8 pokemon + garbodor

I eventually came to like Mega Evolution and Z-Moves both a whole lot. Dynamax...well I think it's a joke. I wasn't even bothering with the mechanic by the time I took on my fourth gym (and was one-shotting the Gym leader's Dynamaxed Pokemon because doubled HP doesn't really do a lot against super-effective attacks).

I liked Z moves because they felt the most strategic but any of your pokemon could potentially make use of it so long as you gave them a stone to hold instead of another useful item like leftovers. However in terms of just the concept I find mega-evolution the coolest even if in gameplay it was limited to only working on certain pokemon. Dynamax was my least favorite, you didn't have to do any strategy via giving up your held item slot for a pokemon to be able to use it so it felt too easy and overpowered.

For me megas would be number one if not for the fact that they were given to pokemon that didn't really need them do to which z moves are the ones I consider best due to them being one time boosts any pokemon could feasibly use though I do wish a few of the lesser used mons or newer ones got unique ones instead of pikachu ect. but that's mostly a style choice more than anything.

Ahhh Mega Evolutions. I remember back in the day that either you had a pokemon that can go Mega or you will 100% lose if you do not and your opponent does. Honestly I wish game freak could of balance it out a bit more.

I love spamming Techtonic Rage with Garchomp back in VGC17. Good times.

"Battle gimmick fatigue" indeed. Not gonna lie, when I first saw Dynamaxing in the Sword/Shield trailer, I just groaned because it became apparent that new generations are introducing gimmicks solely for the sake of it now. And the sad thing is that this was how I felt BEFORE Dexit, and BEFORE they announced that neither Mega Evolutions nor Z-Moves would be returning (and as much as Megas were poorly-implemented in Gen7, they at least kept them at all despite said generation introducing a whole new gimmick of its own).

What I don't like about megaevolution, besides that there are so few Pokémon capable of that, is that no new Pokémon (gen 6 in that moment) received one (besides Diancie). Not like Gigantamax that was mostly for new Pokémon

My first pokemon game was y. I loved mega evolutions, as I thought they were always there, and basically every design was good. Also, it was fun to actually evolve my pokemon mid battle, like in the anime. Of course, it was a temporary evolution, though.

11:40 getting 1shooted by Chuck Norris. Seems legit

9:08 dynamax didn't have a good reception because other than a few gigantamax mons, others just had their already low resolution models stretched as if that makes them new

The next gimmick needs to be EVOLUTIONS!! Gen 4 wasn't great, but adding evolutions to old pokemon is great. We need lots of evolutions. It's such an easy way to spice it up. That being said. I really enjoyed dynamaxing, and gigantamaxing. The raids were awful at first, but they made the AI better and it made it lots of fun. It was a great way of using the max forms as well

4:09 JPT: they lack creativity Flygon: well..

Unpopular opinion: Z-Moves were the best mechanic.

It would be pretty cool and chaotic for a future Pokemon game to have all three (or four including the gimmick in Scarlet and Violet) gimmicks in a Pokemon Stadium/Battle Revolution styled game just like how Ash in the anime is able to use Megas, Z-Moves and Dynamax in the latest series

Remember when JPR had an animated avatar? Maybe it’ll come back animatated, but in the meantime, those were the days. I for one welcome REAL ASTRONAUT PERSON JPR

I'm a first generation Pokemon master! My first Pokemon as Charmander. Who else here is a first generation Pokemon master??

To me I like Z-moves more than anything else, and it's not because Alola is my favorite region but a good huge amount of Pokemon could use it even tho it's a 1 off powerful move, also because I love the animation for each of these Z-moves being used. And in all honesty the best gimmick for me at least is regional variants, sure it's not the same as megas or gigantamaxing but it helps forgotten Pokemon givin a fresh new look to them like Alolan Persian,Galarian Corsola and Hisuian Electrode. Personally Alolan Sandshrew/Sandslash is my favorite of all regional variants.

I think mega evolution was handled more poorly in-game than in competitive which has the bigger impact for me, you play the story then move on. It's decently balanced and the distribution does make them more impactful. I agree that the sheer hurt of having them taken away and the fact that they went from a game-changer to "yet another gimmick" just made them better.

Great video. I learned a lot

I like the crazy looks on the megas, feels like they're pushing further, bursting with raw power, something that they almost can't control

Enjoyed the newer format mate, great video

A) you're very handsome, and B) I feel mega evolution and the ethical implications on the Pokemon going through pain is more compatible with Team Plasma's mission in Black and White

I like your new gimmick! with the camera feels like you're connecting with us more. Definitely miss Mega Evolutions :,(.

I think one of the biggest problem with giga forms is that maxing is so cheap it breaks the game, but somehow also useless if you play without rules because then zacian is also allowed to effortlessly threaten them with behemoth blade, so players are forced to dynamax an uber instead to keep from losing instantly. Getting a mega form could make an originally obsolete pokémon usable again, but getting a giga form basically didn't matter for any pokémon that got them from a gameplay standpoint.

Mega Mewtwo X/Y: It’s time to die My Lvl 91 Tinkaton: are you talking to yourself?

R- R- Rick? Rick Astely is that you?

I never liked Mega-Evolurion. When it first got teased I immediately went like "Oh, they are now copying Digimon's Burst Mode 7 years later. It is LITERALLY THE SAME MECHANIC! The way X/Y and ORAS both just handed you a Mega also always bugged me. The implimentation into the lore was nice, but with how shallow the backstory was told it just seemd ridiculously dumb. Also, the game would NOT! SHUT! UP! about Mega Evolutions... I personally like Z-Moves. It was just such a aetheticly pleasing gimmick for Alola and I generally liked the moves. Maxing is kinda hit and miss for me. Like Z-moves it fits very well into the region. Given how Poke-Battles are an actual sport in Galar the idea of making Pokemon GROW for a climax in front of a crowd just seemed so perfect to me, but of course it has its downs with a lot of the Dai-Moves being very underwhelming and a Giant of a Pokemon facing a not maxed one just looked ridiculous...

U almost had me worried I thought u weren’t gonna post this Friday😭😭

I like Mega Evolution the most. It definitely wasn't the most "balanced" but it was the coolest. Z-moves are the most balanced out of the three, but only because every Pokemon could use them to some extent. Dynamax/Gigantamax is my least favorite by far. It kind of takes the worst of both previous mechanics. Limited forms of Megas and even less exciting than Z-Moves. So yeah. I want Megas to come back, but Z- moves were better spread out. Or maybe we'll just get a game where we can use out all of the mechanics in one game *cough* Pokemon Stadium 3 *cough*

Hm, interesting, fair and valid points and opinions. I wonder what you will come up with next, can’t wait to see.

I will die on the hill that is Mega evolution. Were some not needed like Mega rayquaza? Yeah but there was potential with the system. Pokemon like Sceptile, Mawile, Kangaskhan, Pinser, Ampharos and Pidgeot, just to name a few were all given new life with megas and I would have loved to see more mons be given that chance. Stuff like Rapidash getting fairy type and turning into a pegasus, Johto starters flygon and Milotic being given megas would bring them into relevancy easily. Like it says a lot that fangames have only ever done mega evolution and never even try Z moves or Gigantamax, Megas were far and away more popular. As for Z moves and Dynamax, I’m not super big on them. Z moves are a wild card and basically can destroy stall but otherwise are a time waster in a game that’s already infamous for wasting time. Plus it’s just one use, which is pretty boring. And Dynamax, I don’t like it outside of gigantamax designs, but otherwise snap the game faster then mega evolution, especially in single player because G max moves are like having three Z moves and some mons can snowball super fast like gyarados. And thanks to the ho boost even glass cannon mons can take hits like a wall and get stronger and stronger. It’s just not fun to play around and I don’t like it.

I think my favorite is z moves because it was the least biased when it comes to certain Pokemon having a unique Z move compared to the other gimmicks

Honestly, I just want new evoultions back introduced in gen 4. Dusklops wouldn't look anywhere was cool if was an alternate form instead of an evolution.

I personally loved all these Gimucs but my Favorite is Z-Moves but maybe im just biased towards Gen 7 but they were just so good. Tho i also have a Love for Mega Evolution like my ranking is Z- Moves Mega Evo Dynamax

My problem with dynamax was that it allowed you to get out of bad plays so easily. In previous generations when you revenge kill something with choice item, you leave yourself wide open to setup. That made choice items high risk and high reward. Now since you can just dynamax out of a locked ground move against a flying type for example, it just feels low risk and high reward. And I don't like those types of strategies

Didn’t know you were such a massive NASCAR fan. Nice.

I like how people say Sword and Shield is hated but it's the second best-selling Pokémon game. The main people who complain about it is some of the hardcore fans which the hardcore fans are like 8% of the people who buy these games and half of those hate the game.

Mega evolution is like giving a car to your children... your FAVORITE children that is...

In generation 3 double battles abilities was introduced which Is a very important battle gimmick

you should cover tripple and rotation battles next!

I can't wait to see what the new battle feature will be for Scarlet and Violet Galar gave us are dream of using giant Pokémon maybe this time they could make a device that transforms trainers into any Pokémon they choose we can call it Battle Morphing.

I was definitely one of the people who thought Megas would be a permanent fixture in the series, mainly because they decided to include them in ORAS and all the Gen 7 games. When they were cut in SwSh I was shocked but at least expected them to come back for BDSP, like how Hoenn got the Mega treatment. I was very disappointed that I never got my Mega Empoleon.

Mega Evolution was just downright cool.

also would like to mention that you can now update your every generation review and do gen. 8 now! wild its been since 2019

That new avatar is so well-drawn and realistic.

Wish at least the elite four had megas felt like a waste to not give any gym leaders or elite four megas

They might not stay long but each can be fun

LMFAO... I forgot how long Light that Burns the Sky actually took to finish. It's bordering on Sephiorth's SUPERNOVA attack length in FF7. XD

Mega Evolutions failed because they didn't have Mega Flygon

Complete stat rework, ability changes, looked over mons coming to the limelight. VS one shot. VS big 3 turn stat boost. One is obviously more complex and strategic than the rest and should be expanded to many other Pokémon

From a story perspective, the best thing about Mega-Evolution and Dynamax was that they gave the notable NPCs a recognisable/rocognisably signature pokemon. Usually, the only way to identify an opponent's signature pokemon was by it's slightly higher level and maybe by how it caused you a little more trouble, but mega-evolution and dynamaxing put a real emphasis on this. Z-moves never really got this. That said, playing through the story, the lack of NPCs with Megas in XY and even in ORAS did feel like potential was being wasted. From a competitive perspective, Z-moves were normally the best, although there were some which were horribly overpowered. There were also some horribly overpowered megas, but as you said, every pokemon got Z-moves where-as only about 40 got megas so the balance was less busted. I don't know of any notably overpowered Dynamax pokemon, but the strength of dynamaxed pokemon always causes the win/lose of a battle to be determined too much by how well players manage that single mechanic. there were also some Megas whoich could have stood to be better. From a design perspective. The designs of Megas and G-max forms is I guess a matter of personal taste, although, I often find the G-MAX designs to be too busy and cluttered, or plain silly, where-as i did like almost every mega. If you were prepared to scale the forms up/down, many megas/G-Max forms could pull double duty (ie, if you wanted to implement a G-Max Scizor, have it use a scaled-up Mega-Scizor design, if you want to impliment Mega-Butterfree, scale-down G-Max Butterfree). Also, I most/all of the Max moves just look like overkill when used against non-dynamaxed pokemon, to the extent where I am worried about my pokemon incurring lasting injuries.

I really like dynamax in terms of mechanics. You have three turns to use strong moves, with extra health. You can use it defensively, offensively, or even for setup since they effect stats. But unlike the other two mechanics there's opportunity for counter play. Once a z move is used that's it. You can't use the knowledge that a pokemon is holding a z crystal against it. When a pokemon mega evolves it stays that way. But for dynamax since it takes 3 turns always, you can try to play around it by switching your pokemon or using certain moves. If you switch into the right pokemon there's a chance you could scare them into switching and losing their other dynamax turns. It's integral to the strategy of the game without being too busted. That being said it absolutely lacks intrigue in the lore.

Honestly I feel like terastallization from Scarlet and Violet combines all the best features of mega evolution, z moves, and dynamax along with being its own unique thing that can greatly enhance gameplay: 1. Any Pokemon can use it are there are no exclusive forms to separate one Pokemon from another 2. It actually involves some strategy giving a Pokemon a completely different typing instead of just being an instant win button 3. It's tied in perfectly to the lore and culture of Paldea and actually gives reason for gym leaders to use Pokemon outside of their type specialty (Except for the chef being the only person to know how to change a Pokemon's tera type with no explanation that was weird) 4. It very much helped make old Pokemon more relevant and with 18 types to terastallize into it is unpredictable while still being fair 5. It improved the raid feature from sword and shield tenfold and honestly made them more fun imo 6. It may look a little goofy to see a crystalized Pokemon with a giant silly hat but honestly, I find it pretty endearing, especially for Pokemon like Mimikyu and Torterra Overall I think terastallization is the best feature they've introduced so far but people won't accept it because the bias toward mega evolution is insane even though it is a very flawed feature, and removing it was honestly one of the better decisions GameFreak has made recently

I think zmoves are definitely my favorite gimmick I especially love how they did them in the anime

Back in Gen 6 we got one Mega Evolved Pokémon in the Anything Goes tier. Mega Rayquaza Now in Gen 8 every single Dynamax and Gigantmax Pokémon in the game is banned to Anything Goes. It's insane how busted they made this mechanic.

Honestly, i think terastalization is the best gimmick of the 4. It’s a solid and much easier way of getting type coverage as opposed to hidden power, and it provides an interesting mixup of who is gonna use it and what they’ll become.