Authored environments over open-world blandness
Controversial take, but I would not be too upset if Z-A did away with the open environments of Arceus. Part of this is because if the game is going to take place entirely in Lumiose City, there might not be the same environment variety that keeps Arceus fresh while traversing the Hisui wilds. But also, setting the game in just one city sounds like the perfect opportunity to craft the world for more than just Pokémon spawning. Arceus covers multiple biomes, but with the exception of a stray landmark or village, the world lacks character. Arceus paints the Hisui region as an “untamed” world where civilization hasn’t been established yet—for better and worse. It makes sense that Z-A would focus on establishing a sense of place for Lumiose City, so it would be great to see a corresponding pivot in environmental design.
