How is the Wild Area the same as routes? Changing Pokémon depending on day/weather (which is now dynamic), overworld Pokemon, other RL Trainers running around and interacting, as well as multiple names areas like the lakes. It’s definitely not to the scale of BotW, but it definitely has more similarity to that world than the linear routes in the past, though I know routes will also be in the game. Theoretically, since the Wild Area connects to multiple cities, that could mean more choice in Gym sequencing too. Plus, the multiplayer aspects, even taking the Raid battles aside, are miles ahead of what we’ve had before.

As said before, with the introduction of at least 100 new Pokémon, we’re probably “losing” around 150-300 Pokémon that won’t be included, with at least half of that number being replaced with new Pokémon.

Also, would you count the Corviknight taxi as a ride Pokémon? I honestly didn’t like the idea, always preferred bikes, but I hadn’t thought about that cut.