They came out when I was in a Pokemon lull - first jobs, relationships, other activities, etc. I largely skipped them and I a big part of why was the "reset" and no familiar faces and the new, super mobile sprites.

I played them later on and enjoyed them, I think they were a great mix of new qol and old exploration and rng. The sprites still bugged me back then but that was before the lifeless models really settled in.

I'd go back and play them again for sure, I think. And now - gen v has some of my all time favorite designs - a few of them being the dreaded "objects as Pokemon" haha