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Something like this is ideal map design imo (it's just a mock-up I threw together in paint in 10 seconds, don't get too angry about it)
>Gyms still done in order for balance reasons
>tons more side-towns with optional content, side quests, items/pokemon to collect
>multiple paths to some major cities
>some backtracking to open up new shit later on
I think the biggest issue with Pokemon's map design currently isn't even necessarily that the maps suck, it's that Pokemon how so little side content beyond Gym > Route > Gym > Route > Villain team plot shit > Gym > Route > etc, that there's no reason to add little side towns beyond filler.
I liked the first couple Gyms of Kalos when there was a huge downtime between Gyms and a handful of filler towns. Apply that pacing to the whole region and give the filler towns some sidequests and the games could be super fun and replayable
