Quote Originally Posted by Formalhaut View Post
If you count the underwater environs, then FFVII would actually be quite a good example of a world map. It's got one map, with a traversable smaller map which is useful in a couple situations. Because of the single map, the developers could add hidden secrets on the map, like the materia caves, that mythril man and the KoTR island. I loved VII's world map. And even with a huge meteor about to impact on you, you could still roam around doing stuff.

The main reason why I didn't like FFVIII's map is that after time compression you basically can't do anything. You're trapped. XIII also did this by making sure you could never get back to the locales in Chapter's one to ten. I liked the Sunleth Waterscape!
VII's map is my personal favourite from I-IX. Like you guys, I like having a single, detailed map vs. two or three (IV and V) or one that changes drastically (VI).

VIII and IX have maps much more like VII's, but yeah they locked you out at a certain point. I also find that they feel a bit emptier (maybe this isn't the word for it?) than VII's. They're huge and all, but especially with VIII's it feels like there's a ton of ground to cover and you'll be traveling across entire countrysides with no actual locations to enter.

I haven't answered the poll yet, so I guess my answer is 1.