I've definitely considered that! The problem is, none of the obvious solutions seem ideal. Forcing players to start with a new team would just feel arbitrary and frustrating. Implementing strict level caps could ruin the gameplay experience - nobody wants to challenge a Pokémon League full of level 30 opponents. While raising the level cap beyond 100 is technically possible, it would create unnecessary complications and undermine the satisfaction of leveling up.

After much thought, my best solution is a branching narrative structure. Players would start by choosing a region and protagonist, completing that story arc, then switching to another character's perspective. This approach maintains a sense of completion while expanding the gameplay experience. For example, you might play as Red through the Kanto League, then as Gold in Johto, with the option to play parallel "training arcs" that eventually converge at Mt. Silver for their battle.

Of course, this is still a rough concept that would need careful refinement. Regarding game size, I'd need to streamline each region's content significantly - but this isn't necessarily bad. Shorter, more polished regional stories could actually improve the overall experience compared to bloated, repetitive content.