Linearity!

[Yar]

IMO if the games plot forces you to make game design decisions that lower the enjoyment of the game, then the plot is holding the game back not moving it forward, and thus not an appropriate plot for that style of video game. Especially when all they do is put a ring of lights around the towns and don't explain any of it.

In Final Fantasy VI, the World of Balance cannot be reached once you are in the World of Ruin. I don't think it's plot is held back at all by this incident.

And making different saves at every location you visit for every game you play on the off chance you can't go back? That is a completely absurd rationalization. Doable if you are on a second playthough or are forewarned, but to imply people should be taking it as a routine preventative measure in games is ludicrous.

If you're playing through a game on just one save file, then you're doing it wrong.

I'm not saying you save to a brand new slot every time the plot progresses. What I think everyone should do is use 2 or 3 save slots. Save to slot 1 the first time you save. Then slot 2 the next time, and then slot 3. Then start over again at slot 1. Odds are, you won't use your oldest save, but it's there if you need it.

And you should always have a save outside the last dungeon. That's for every Final Fantasy.