Quite Likely to be Pokemon

[megaMasquerain]

If you're going to revamp Pokemon, a big part of it is actually editing the old sprite's proportions to match the new way the Pokemon is depicted.

For example, I know you said you tried this on your Bulbasaur, but take a look at the Bulbasaur from B/W:



Some differences in canon bulbasaur:

Rounder bulb
Bigger head/eyes
Red eyes
Nostrils
Rounder legs
Spots in different places (esp. on face)
brighter colors

Pokemon like Raticate, Golbat and Haunter have undergone a lot of design edits since RBY. I would recommend choosing an old sprite whose pose is a lot different from the B/W and DPPT ones and then working with both sprites at the same time, IE having them on the same canvas.

That being said... why are you wasting your skills on edits? Go make something yourself!