we're already multiple layers of "going the wrong way during a critical plot sequence" in but someone just had to put an item on the stairs

The degree to which this section of the game is excited to waste the player's time is kind of unbelievable

I'll be blunt: I'm glad the modern rpg genre has mostly dropped "super duper 'hidden' secrets" like this in the same way I'm glad that action games have mostly ditched lives

It's a dated concept that only was interesting within the context of a time that doesn't exist anymore

I will say that I'm less than happy these bad filler design habits have made their way into other genres tho https://twitter.com/MOOMANiBE/status/1248053619330441217?s=19