Even zone design and traversal is formulaic

[Hycinthus]

What would changing it up really achieve? Would it be more fun to finish Zone 1? Or maybe you want to finish only 20% aether currents?

All I'm saying is that it is very immersive breaking, knowing at at Urqopacha, I saw an aether current on a cliff, and I immediately knew it's locked away until I return for the 2nd time to this zone.

Like immediately I knew it's part of the formula, like someone got this planned on a spreadsheet already. Which I know they probably do.

And to your suggestion of 20%. Maybe? Surprise us. Design something new.

I know this is a small thing, but it's just part of a trend.

It started with Heavensward, though it is the least prominent there, where you only have access to a portion, less than half, of the Sea of Clouds on first visit, then you have half of The Fringes and The Peaks in Stormblood, then you half half Amh Araeng and Kholusia in Shadowbringers, then half of Labyrinthos and Thavnair in Endwalker, then half of Urqopacha and Kozama'uka in Dawntrail.

It's repetitive, but of all formulaic aspects of the game, it's the one that is least consequential, I think the only consequence is that you can tell you will be revisiting that map in particular, and so the first story segment there will be perhaps shorter.

Exactly.