limber iron
The current game design is time-consuming due to the excessively large maps. Players spend too much time moving from the center of the map to the outer areas, yet there’s little to no difference in the loot found nearby versus what’s located further away, which can take 1-2 minutes to reach. This doesn’t add any benefit, difficulty, or depth to the game; it just stretches out playtime with longer runs.
The same issue arises in the Sanctum Mesa map—90% of it feels useless. While the graphics are beautiful and clearly had a lot of effort put into them, the reality is that there’s no real point in spawning at the obelisk, only to move to a portal to reach the center (the base) to access all the menus, and then having to teleport back to the obelisk. All of this could be streamlined by allowing everything to be done directly from the center.
The Overworld (OW) essentially feels like buying a card pack, but instead of opening it instantly, I need to invest an additional 15 minutes to an hour just traveling around the map. It’s like opening a pack but with too many unnecessary steps. The game could benefit from selling packs that can be opened directly to receive random illuvials, rocks, or plants, which many players might prefer. Meanwhile, OW could remain as an option for those who want a less random experience and are willing to play to get what they’re specifically looking for.
To improve OW, I suggest:
Reducing the map size and increasing movement speed to cut down on wasted time.
Eliminating unnecessary steps by removing the obelisk and portals, making everything accessible from the base directly.
Selling packs that can be opened instantly.
Adding content to make OW a more complete experience, rather than just a tedious process of opening a pack with extra steps.
Streamlining these elements would greatly enhance the overall gameplay experience.