POKEMON GEN 6 ANNOUNCED

[Kriven]

"Hey we're allowed to discuss the game... UNLESS YOU DON'T LIKE IT!"

Anyways, I think giving a Zelda-NES approach to the world exploration would be an improvement. As has been suggested, having areas (other than the Elite Four) be shut off for story progression is kind of lame in a franchise that doesn't have much story. The idea behind Pokemon, and a lot of Nintendo games, is that YOU are the hero. This is why the trainers don't actually have canon names and why, now, you get to customize them. Because they are you.

As such, you should be able to explore everything within your ability. Of course, this is different from having everything available at the start. If I went with the Zelda analogy, each Gym would be a Dungeon and the HMs would be the key tool which increases your range of exploration. It really would not be a concept overhaul, Nintendo has worked with this style of play before, and it will better personalize each gamer's experience, and probably change things just enough to keep them from getting moldy.