Clockwork Knight
Arcane
The problem is purely practical: Imagine a game with roughly 10 different "power levels", and 25 areas. At any given point, roughly 2 or 3 of them will be appropiate for your level, and 22-23 of the rest will not. Therefore, free roaming my ass. You'll be free to roam indeed, but will have no reasons to visit 95% of the world, nor will it be practical.
I don't think it's a problem. You always have a few areas that give you a fair challenge (which also serve as a hint you're on the right path), you gradually get more areas that you can easily deal with (and explore at leisure now that you feel safe), and you gradually get fewer areas that are still off-limits to you (you could still take a peek inside and see if you can score some goodies before getting creamed by the locals). Feels pretty organic.
Sooo many people don't know about using shift to run. Arnika road is possible with virtually no combat if you use lure and running and yet so many point to it as a breaking point.
I blame the monastery, it doesn't train you for what is coming with the enclosed spaces and hard to avoid battles.
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