>>713570967
Go on, make your case. Why do these games have to railroad the player save for giving them a choice between two areas to explore once or twice throughout the game? How does that make the game more fun?

It's not necessary for each area to seem to be accessible, either. Maybe it's only later the player learns of short cuts revealed by exploring those areas having come from another direction, and then on a second run the player knows they can get there from the start. More resilient and observant players will of course find these on their first run and I think there's a sense of joy from feeling like you're breaking the games rules or structure by doing so. Not really, but there's that feeling of "I got there because I wanted to", not because the game has some obstacle that's a glorified keycard that only opens up once you get some item or ability. That's not a puzzle. I would actually welcome a few puzzles that seem cryptic at first but then become clear later as you explore other areas and get more explicit clues as to how the puzzle might be solved.

If you haven't said the "N" word today, consider this your reminder!