PaperSplash posted...
Tighter and more focused how?
Less bloat, more structure. Instead of having to worry about where to go and how, you just have to focus on executing whatever task.
Kingdom Hearts 1 isn't an open world, but it illustrates my point well. In KH1, navogation is a genuine task, and knowing how to maneuver around the world is just as much of a feature as the combat. Throughout the game exploration and experimentation with the environment leads to rewards. In KH2, the opposite approach is taken. The vast majority of rooms are one way in one way out, platforming is deemphasised and the only that necedsitates backtracking are a few puzzle pieces. Its very much a "closed world" game. While I enjoy KH1's approach, I love KH2's more. It puts the best parts of the game, the combat, at the forefront and creates an excellently paced experience.
Like I said, I don't think open world's are objectively inferior, but over time I've grown more appreciative of games that just take the "here's a strsightforward path, here's some enemies, go kill em" approach.