"Journey vs. Destination"

I had a moment of clarity today when I was discussing the SWSH map. It's not so much an idea I didn't previously have, but more that I figured out how to convey it in a simple way. The pokemon games starting with XY, but most aggressively SM, have been shifting their focus from the journey to the destination. This is the case for not only the actual regions/maps, but also the story progression and gameplay.In Generations 1 - 5 there were interesting routes, caves, waterways, and side towns along the way that were interesting and fun to explore. Sometimes these areas had to do with the story, but not always. These games also made you work for certain things, whether it was figuring out where to go, or what to do next.Generations 7 - 8 seem to be a shift where it was decided that the character journey wasn't as important as the incremental destinations throughout the game. The linear routes and towns are more designed to guide you efficiently to the next important city. Similarly, the story points are given to you without need of exploration. This also manifests with the game difficulty. Making them easier creates less road blocks that may slow you down on your way to the next gym. You just fight a few trainers, rack up that experience for everyone and get going.I'm not necessarily saying this focus shift is a bad thing, because some people might actually prefer a straightforward game like SM and (especially) SWSH. I personally have always loved the exploration and unknown aspects of pokemon games. To me, a sense of adventure in pokemon is the most important part. It's often times that areas between the "important" ones are the most memorable. via /r/pokemon https://ift.tt/36L1w0W