Detailed Presentation of 3-GN738
Few months ago, I shared a diagram representing a portion of Planet 3-GN738. Today, I’d like to show you what this part of the map actually looks like!
As you can see, the environment is that of a cave. That said, your expedition will begin outside, but you’ll quickly be forced to enter the cave in order to explore 3-GN738.
In the image, you can spot four cave exits: two on the eastern side and two on the southern side. You’ll arrive through the one located at the bottom left. One of the elements you’ll notice right away is that one of the exits is inaccessible without the Surf Pass. Feel free to check out the article about the game’s HM system to learn more!
Map Design and Thoughts on Replayability
It was while creating this map that I realized several key aspects to encourage strong replayability. When designing my first maps, I was careful not to make them too large, due to the step limit imposed on each expedition. This wasn’t a bad approach: limiting the size helps prevent maps from becoming too sprawling or tedious to explore.
But over time, I came to believe that large exploration areas can create a mild but positive sense of frustration for the player. When they encounter this planet again in a future run, that frustration will turn into curiosity and excitement at the idea of discovering the areas they missed the first time. It’s a delicate balance to strike: avoiding the boredom of repetitive exploration while leveraging the mystery left by an incomplete journey.