Pokémon Contests were one of Pokémon's most ambitious additions, but they don't need to return to the series. Contests came around at a time when Pokémon was experimenting with a lot of new ideas to move the series forward. Although there were some decent ideas behind the concept of contests, in execution they proved unable to have much staying power.
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire saw the debut of Pokémon Contests, as well as several other additions to the series. Ruby and Sapphire introduced double battles, which would become an occasional mechanic in the games, but a major part of competitive Pokémon. The Generation 3 games also brought abilities to the series, which wound up being one of the most significant changes in the series' history. A Pokémon's ability is extremely important, and it is just as vital as a Pokémon's moveset when it comes to planning strategies. Compared to these other additions, Pokémon Contests never managed to reach the same level.
Even though the developers clearly put a lot of thought into Contests, they were unable to attain the same appeal as the games' traditional battles. The mechanics themselves at least had something unique to them, even if they weren't enough to keep Contests around. Since contests haven't been a part of the ongoing series since Generation 4, one can look back and wonder what kept them from returning.
Pokémon Contests Have Their Own Stats And Effects
Unlike battles, which can take place almost everywhere in the region, Pokémon Contests only take place in contest halls. There were four contests halls in Hoenn, and only one in Sinnoh. Among the differences between Sinnoh and Legends: Arceus' Hisui is that despite being the same region, Hisui has no contests since they were likely invented long after the events of the game. Before one could get started with contests though, they would need to learn the mechanics unique to them, and how to prepare their Pokémon.
Contests come in five varieties: Tough, Cool, Smart, Beauty, and Cute. Every Pokémon has stats for each Contest type, and every move is associated with one of said types as well. Players can raise their Pokémon's Contest stats by feeding them either Pokéblocks or poffins made from berries, depending on the game. The better a Pokémon's stats for a specific Contest, the higher they can score. Likewise, every move will earn more points in a Contest that matches its type, in addition to whatever Contest effects they may have. Even some of the worst moves in Pokémon could be decent in a Contest setting depending on their effects. On the opposite end, using moves that aren't of the stated type will either have no point bonus, or actively penalize the user by boring the crowd.
Contests gave players an extra set of stats and move effects for each Pokémon that players had to learn. Disappointingly, there was not a lot of variation in the various types of move effects available, resulting in many moves feeling extremely similar. In addition, keeping track of a Pokémon's contest abilities would likely fall by the wayside because battles were still the way for the player to progress through the game.
Pokémon Contests Were A Unique Type Of Spectacle
Pokémon Contests took place over the course of multiple rounds. Ruby and Sapphire's contests were rather simple, while Diamond and Pearl added a couple more twists. Even though Pokémon's gimmicks are arguably hurting the series, it's hard to blame the developers for wanting to try something new to improve Contests. In both generations, contests involved more investment than battles due to the time required, and players needed to learn quickly.
The first round of contests is an initial judging. In Ruby and Sapphire, it was solely a point bonus based on contest stats, while Diamond and Pearl also judged the Pokémon by how the player dressed them up. After this came the talent portion, where Pokémon would take turns using moves to impress the judges. In addition to earning points, some moves can also disrupt opponents or affect the user's next move. The key to victory in this stage is not only using moves of the proper type, but timing their moves strategically. By impressing the judges at the right time, the player could earn a major bonus similar to finishing a rewarding Pokémon GO quest.
The Diamond and Pearl games also included a dance competition that played like a rhythm game, and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl combined the dance and talent portions into a single event. Every level of the Contests requires a greater performance than the last, eventually needing a Pokémon that was basically optimized for the competition. In terms of Pokémon side activities, the Contests showed the work that was put into them.
Pokémon Contests Had Their Own Problems
Even though Pokémon Contests had their own intricately-designed mechanics, they still failed to show up in anything beyond the Gen 3 and 4 games and their remakes. It's a bit odd, considering how they received a lot of attention both at launch and in the anime. Looking back, though, one can come to a reasonable conclusion as to why Contests ended up as another one of Pokémon's left-behind concepts, like the Pikachu evolution that Pichu replaced.
Contests could be surprisingly difficult despite their seemingly simple design. In the talent portion, the player could get a big penalty from opponents or miss out on a big bonus with no chance to respond simply due to a round's turn order. In addition, the categories for dressing up one's Pokémon in Diamond and Pearl competitions can frequently be vague, costing the player points because they don't know what accessories fit the theme. Unlike battles, where the player can employ multiple strategies, it frequently feels like the player has less control during Contests, especially at higher levels.
High difficulty and unpredictability are one thing, but Contests' biggest letdown is that they aren't particularly fun. The idea to use Pokémon for something other than battling is a good one, but Contests missed the mark in terms of being engaging and entertaining. When it comes to Pokémon features that are worth bringing back, Contests don't make the cut despite multiple attempts.
It's possible that in a future game, Pokémon could introduce a good way for Pokémon to compete in non-battle-themed events. The series has made some solid attempts, but so far nothing aside from the traditional battles and Pokémon League have managed to be long-term parts of the series. Pokémon Contests were a valiant attempt to add variety to the Pokémon world, but they don't need to come back in their current state.