>>57184427Jap kids turned out to be retarded and got filtered by Mt. Coronet, so in Unova they simplified and streamlined the overall region's layout while still adding branching optional paths to different areas to reward players who strayed from the main path. Unfortunately, Unova was bashed by Pokemon fans and critics alike, so GameFreak abandoned the streamlined gameplay of Gen 5 in favor of satisfying the masses in Gen 6. This included simplifying routes and other locations further, as Masuda embraced a jaded mindset towards Pokemon's target audience and stopped trying. It influenced more than just exploration, obviously, but this is the reason for it.
