I was so excited to explore them till I realised they SR zones. Its such a shame to have the most beautiful places to be not part of open world.
I genuinely kinda disappointed at this decision. Genshin charm is always been open world and beautiful maps. I remember how we used to save certain locations and take pictures with favourite characters.
Pale crown and flame feather are such locations, they are so beautiful and its disappointing they are shadow real zones. Now it restrictive to even roam there.
I know the entire area is about shadow realm quest but heck its just seems a convienent reason to make a shez map look bigger when in reality devs don't need to add lot of assests that generally requires for open world map. Plus shame when entire shez map is blue ice and only two regions which has some character turns to be a SR zone.
Since Miliastra I feel maps are getting smaller since start of nodkrai, but i thought nodkrai isn't nation so alright, but sheznaya gives illusion of big map when it reality 1/3rd of the map is nothing but shadow realm.
Why is open world maps is getting sacrificed in process of these new business directions. If anything they should be additional, but not at cost of open world map.
Temple of space isn't even large as Enkanomiya, Dorm man port is tiny expansion, now pale crown and flame feather. As a exploration enthusiast this is underwhelming.
Ps - this post isn't against shadow realm, just saying shadow realm shouldn't come at the cost of open world maps. It should he addition not replacement of open world. By end of sheznayan if open world map is not big as sumeru, than my entire post about getting lesser open world will turn out to be truth. But the answer is at end, so hopefully we get a open world explorable map as big or bigger than Sumeru.