Your Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Starter have a big consequence (and one option is much worse than the others)

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch and Switch 2 has been a great success. Perhaps due to the nostalgia of older games by veteran players or the fact that newcomers never got to experience these games first hand, the result is the same, and the sales charts for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen speak for themselves. It's also interesting to note how these Gen 3 Kanto remakes ended up carrying so much more weight than other titles in the series, and a big example comes from the three starters. The most iconic of the series, it's hard to deny the impact Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle had on the franchise, but it's more than just that.

The best starter in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreenfor example is not so easy to choose. Most players prefer Bulbasaur for a big advantage early and a bulky, powerful presence in the late game due to moves like Leech Seed, Toxic, Synthesis, and Razor Leaf. Regardless of your personal preferences, these games actually make the choice of your starter very important, to the point where it even affects which legendaries you face post-game. But one consequence of this choice is often neglected, and while it may not be as all-encompassing as getting Raikou, Suicune, or Entei, it can dramatically reshape your playthrough.

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Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen: What you should use the Master Ball on depends entirely on the starter you chose

The Pokémon that FireRed and LeafGreen players will use their Master Ball on depends on which starter they choose at the start of the game.

One of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen's starters is worse than the others

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Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreens best teams tend to have the same three or four critters, since Kanto has 151 Pokémon, but only a few are realistically the best options overall within a given type or for a given strategy. Still, the starter you choose ends up affecting your rival's team building choices, which isn't a huge problem throughout the game, but it might be at the end of it, when you face your rival as champion right after the Elite Four.

Balance the critics' averages

Light (6) Medium (8) Hard (10)

Champions' team has some regulars across the board, but the core is changing. This can be a big problem if you're underleveled, inexperienced with the series, or trying a Nuzlocke run. Technically speaking, Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen players beat the Elite Four with bad teams quite often and still have a good time, but if you want to optimize your picks Charmander can be the worst. The teams of champions are as follows:

If you choose Bulbasaur: Pidgeot (lv. 59), Alakazam (lv. 57), Rhydon (lv. 59), Exeggutor (lv. 59), Gyarados (lv. 61) and Charizard (lv. 63)
If you choose Squirtle: Pidgeot (lv. 59), Alakazam (lv. 57), Rhydon (lv. 59), Gyarados (lv. 59), Arcanine (lv. 61) and Venusaur (lv. 63)
If you choose Charmander: Pidgeot (lv. 59), Alakazam (lv. 57), Rhydon (lv. 59), Arcanine (lv. 59), Exeggutor (lv. 61) and Blastoise (lv. 63)

One of the most important things to notice is that picking Bulbasaur will give the champion a team with three weaknesses to Rock (Charizard is 4x), a 4x weakness to Water and Grass with Rhydon, and a 4x weakness to Electric with Gyarados. With Squirtle, something similar happens, but not to the same extent. In the case of Charmander, the combination of Arcanine, Exeggutor, and Blastoise makes the spell more effective and deadly, not to mention the fact that the only 4x weakness in this particular case is Exeggutor's Bug weakness. If you don't use Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen's Nidoking with Megahorn, Exeggutor can be a problem, while setting up Light Screen or putting your Pokemon to sleep with Sleep Powder.

Why Charmander can make your Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen run harder

Not only is Charmander the weakest starter in the early game, being weak to both Rock-types in Brock's Gym and Water-types in Misty's Gym, but it never really shines in any of the main fights. The only place where Charizard or its pre-evolutions can dominate is Erika's Grass-type Gym, but elsewhere these animals don't really have a strong matchup. Beyond that, none of the Elite Four i Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen has a good team for Charizard:

Lorelei has four water-type Pokemon (Dewgong lv. 52, Cloyster lv. 51, Slowbro lv. 52 and Lapras lv. 54) and then a lv. 54 Jynx, which would be the only more “ideal” time to use Charizard.
Bruno has two Onix and three Fighting-type Pokémon (Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, and Machamp), but the first Onix, Hitmonchan, and Machamp all know Rock Tomb, which can one-shot Charizard due to its 4x weakness to Rock.
Agatha's team is the most neutral for Charizard, but it's also not a favorable matchup.
Lance has Gyarados, two Dragonair and a Dragonite (all of which resist fire), and then Aerodactyl (which can one-shot Charizard with ancient power).
Finally, the only Pokémon the champion is favorable to use Charizard against is the Grass-type Exeggutorn, but if you don't one-shot it can set up Light Screen for itself and Blastoise, or put your Charizard to sleep and then use Light Screen or Egg Bomb.

Generally speaking, none of the Fire-type Pokémon in Kanto have great match-ups in the main gym, E4, and rival/champion battles.

As for Squirtle and Bulbasaur, Champions' team is more manageable overall, and some mons can easily be one-shotted by certain moves. Charizard doesn't have this luxury, and you have to have a good team overall or outlast the champion quite a bit.