Wait... PS1 RPG's with pre-rendered backgrounds are now an example of "interaction and exploration"?
Yes, the "roaming" mode of UNS1 was not perfect, but are you telling me that a series of static backdrops which bring the PS1 RPG's heydays are better than expanding the 3D approach to other stages beyond Konoha?
I think that devs prioritized the new characters and boss battles, refinements to the fighting stages, an online battle component, multiplatform development (you do not pull the Xbox 360 version out of thin air), etc... and they did not have the time or manpower (or the budget) to bring the "adventure" elements to the level they wanted while dealing with considerably more locations than the first one provided.
PS1 style backdrops are a negative IMHO while having much more diverse locations is a plus so there is some balancing going on, but I feel that the balance is now leaning more and more towards the fighting aspect of the game.
Commercially they did the right choice: online play + multiplatform release are worth being spent their budget on and will give a better financial return than having a extended 3D roaming mode...
If Elder Scrolls V added more locations and characters, but moved to pre-rendered backdrops and a top-down view (yuck
...) ... well... it would make for quite a thread
.
Edit: Look, you are right that it is possible to create a VERY compelling adventure using pre-rendered backgrounds... I just preferred a free roaming 3D mode over them. I agree that if they expanded the 3D free roaming mode and tried to fit in many diverse locations that each location might have suffered, that can happen (see Shenmue I vs Shenmue II, the latter had more locations, but they were not as detailed and polished as each location was in the first game).
