Same 'ere - the first one had that sandbox feel throughout - underneath it was still a 'corridor game', one way in, one way out, but the scenery and route options thru each level (even if most were really just mazes) succeeded in giving an open-world feel, and any gradient that was too steep to climb never felt like a total glass wall, behind which you'd fall off the edge of the world (per Half-Life et al)...
..and i was likewise totally disappointed with all of the sequels - they all felt ultra-linear; go there, fetch this, come back etc., the sense of freedom and self-determination of the first game became tied down to the story line and cutscenes. Instead of an adventure of discovery they just garden-pathed you thru the various set pieces and plot requirements with chores and errands... and being constantly told what to do and when is a total killer for the whole sandbox free-roam aesthetic..
..basically same kind of disappointment i have with ED over FE2/FFE... just cannot identify the same gameplay elements i loved from the earlier games in the latest installment (i seriously hesitate to even regard it as such)..
![[VR] Merkir](https://forums-cdn.zaonce.net/data/avatars/m/141/141091.jpg?1553527154){kind=avatar}
