And so, it begins in humble Vaniville Town and to Kalos at large! As such, before I delve into the town itself, I'd like to share a little bit about why I love Kalos so much.
The primary reason, as is with a lot of people and their favorite regions, is nostalgia. Pokémon X/Y were the first Pokémon games that I was truly conscious for. I was far too young to remember anything about Heart Gold/Soul Silver and Black/White (along with its sequel) I have more fuzzy memories on, with my love of Unova mainly coming after the fact. However, X/Y released at the perfect time for me to really enjoy the story-- as much as an 8 year old can, anyways.
X/Y gets a lot of hate for it's story line and characters, which I can't really disagree with, especially considering it came off the story of B2W2, which is arguably the greatest story Pokémon has ever made. However, the worldbuilding that Kalos brings, the gorgoeus visuals, and the mechanics should definitely be complimented.
A common thread you will see me mention in these pages is just how beautiful this game is. Obviously it's a bit more crunchy on computers, but on the 3DS it is really stunning. But-- back to Vaniville Town.
The hometown of any Pokémon game has the responsibility of setting the tone for a Pokémon game and I feel Vaniville does that well. The town has a much more compact, "European" style compared to hometowns of past games. Outside of your house is a Rhyhorn you can ride on, which is a cool way of showcasing the mechanic later in the game of riding Pokémon.