Talk:Painted World of Ariamis/@comment-11575002-20140904224003/@comment-25173123-20140905035750

True that a few areas in PW have very difficult avenues to get you back to your path. Forcing you into directions until you get the needed items to open a few doors and such. But left wandering in circles if you can't correct your orientation.

So first playthrough can be very intimidating and confusing for players. Only after continued travel here do you become accustomed to the areas design and plan your paths accordingly.

Most developers have the familiarity issue that they often ignore during testing. They play through a level so often that they become tainted with the idea it works as they desired. When in fact it usually only works due to their own familiarity.

Even when testing most developers will use clean eyes (player having not played or seen the level already) but they tend to discount path finding by players as something they will get using trial and error and favor the multi-playthrough versus a single playthrough mindset.

This entire game is near impossible to get the desired direction in it's totality without being able to use the internet or a book as guidance. I would love to see someone that has never searched or read anything about the game play this and record his time. the "WTF" and "what is going on here" moments will be limitless. ha