The Pokemon franchise has lasted for 25 years and spread across a number of increasingly creative regions, from the distinctly Japanese aesthetic of Sinnoh to the North American atmosphere of Unova to the European-inspired plains of Galar. However, Kanto remains the region where the Pokemon series began, which may give it a special place in the hearts of fans. Despite this, Kanto has undergone a number of changes over the years, and not all of them seem to be positive changes. Pokemon Silver and Gold introduced players to a very different Kanto region from the one shown in the Gen 1 games.
Pokemon Silver, Gold, Crystal, and their associated remakes start players off in the new region of Johto, but about halfway through the game players find themselves returning to their old stomping grounds. However, as the Gen 2 games take place sometime after the original Pokemon games, Kanto is no longer the way veteran players may remember it.
Reddit user KingRatBukowski observed that in the Gen 2 games, much of the Kanto region appears to be in a state of flux. Several iconic locations like the Viridian Forest and Cinnabar Island have been destroyed, replaced by a barren wasteland and a volcano respectively. The Safari Zone and the Pokemon Tower both seem to have been shut down and construction on Fuchsia City has stalled. To top things off, another Snorlax is blocking a major Route across the region.
KingRatBukowski stated that the region seemed to have fallen apart after the events of the original games. One possible explanation for some of the changes comes from the dissolution of Team Rocket. Unlike other villainous groups found in the Pokemon franchise, Team Rocket is explicitly an organized crime syndicate. Organized crime often works its way into communities until it's very difficult to extract. The player defeating Giovanni and driving off Team Rocket may have had significant economic impacts on Kanto as a whole.
Fortunately, the Gen 3 Pokemon games appear to show a Kanto restored to its former glory, with even the Pokemon Tower making a return. This is especially significant, as the Pokemon Tower serves as a graveyard for deceased Pokemon as well as a good place to encounter ghost-type Pokemon. This place of remembrance being replaced by a radio tower in the Gen 2 games may have struck fans and developers alike as being in somewhat poor taste.