Roadblocks

[pkmin3033]

A recurring theme in Pokemon has been the presence of roadblocks that have stopped you from going into an area until a later point in the game for whatever reason, be it a Snorlax, a group of Psyduck, or a group of random men who admit they're there for absolutely no reason. This is to keep players on the prescribed path to the next Gym or story event, although it has the added drawback of discouraging exploration, forcing you to take a very specific route through the game.

How do you feel about this? Do you think there will be places that you won't be able to visit in the game until a later point in time in Sun and Moon? Would you prefer a more "open world" experience in which you are free to travel about wherever you wish and explore, or do you find the forced linear progression of the games to be a useful thing?

 

[Rivvon]

While I would love a more "open-world" experience, I feel Game Freak takes the more linear route to allow younger players to have an easier time to get through the game. Heck, even I have a hard time knowing where I have to go next to progress the story if the game is "open" enough.

What would benefit from more open-world-esque exploration in a Pokémon game, actually? The only thing I can think of is you'd probably want to try your hand at the Gyms in whatever order you please. I think this could work if they applied a system where each Gym Leader's Pokémon was the same level at first, but when you defeat one, the remaining teams increase in level. Otherwise, they'd have to add in some sort of substantial side-quests to even make it worthwhile, going out of your way to go to other towns and cities whenever you want.

If they chose to go one of these routes, they can make some sort of "GPS" item that tells you where you need to go next to advance the story or for your side-quest, maybe on the 3DS's touchscreen. If not, and they keep giving us "roadblocks" to keep us on a linear path, all I hope for is they don't do what they did with X & Y. Yeah, the power's out so no one is allowed in... so why was that random lady just now allowed to slip past us? And why are all the lights still on?

 

[Hikamaru]

I hope for no roadblocks, but if we had to have one I wouldn't mind another Pokemon blocking your way, a la sleeping Snorlax.

 

[Desert Stream~]

I like Pokemon like snorlax as roadblocks, but not dancing dudes.

 

[Hikamaru]

I like Pokemon like snorlax as roadblocks, but not dancing dudes.

I hated the dancing dudes. It was literally the most pointless roadblock I've ever seen in Pokemon games, let's hope Game Freak don't do that again.