>>52650893This is very true, but I think routes can accomplish more than just the bare minimum.
I know XY vs. BW shitflinging is old by now, but bear with me, my intent here isn't to shit on XY, but illustrate a point, and this is a fairly simple example for it.
We can pretty much agree that even by first route standards XY having absolutely nothing in it is shit. Sure, it serves a purpose, to bridge the two towns together without wild encounters so you can get there for the starters.
In contrast, you have BW. When you first start, it's just a regular first Route. Some patches of grass, so NPCs to talk with etc.
But there's a whole second section you can only access after you get Surf, leading to a decently large optional area.
It does more than the bare minimum, without an loss in regards to the primary purpose. No reason XY couldn't have that too. (And yes, basically every other first route too)
Again, I'm not saying the HAVE to do that either.
