>>12320457Game dev here.
Consistent game design is more important than aesthetics. Most of the game is focused around searching for and finding Pokemon. If the grass is going to be based on a grid, movement should as well. It's easier to calculate distances and collisions.
While some things are easier to do free-roam, other things are harder. For instance, it's particularly tricky to get that wall slide thing perfect when NPC interaction comes into play.
It also makes the walkcycles more detailed and difficult to work with, because they have to decide on cycling up and down animation speed or doing straight up model states - or just have the prolific "ice skating" glitch included. By doing grid based, they can waddle for a set number or steps.
It's also simpler in terms of level design when considering NPC line of sight and level design for Strength and ice sliding puzzles.
