My problem with Pyra's design is twofold:
1) I have a huge problem with oversexualization of female characters in video games. HUGE problem. I find it demeaning to women, unnecessary, and a crutch for writers/designers to lean on when they can't come up with anything else. I have been a huge fan of Nintendo in part because they, for the most part, avoided things like this. For example, Zero Suit Samus' armor was shapely but tasteful and functional. In comparison, Pyra's outfit is ridiculous.
2) The design makes absolutely zero sense. She's a blade, which means she was meant for battle. Her armor doesn't point in that direction at all. Earlier this year, one of the reasons I was overjoyed with Horizon: Zero Dawn was because as I played, I felt like that armor is exactly what a female warrior would wear. It was never a distraction. It was functional. It made sense. Pyra's doesn't. It's a huge distraction and makes no sense whatsoever.
I'm actually quite find of nearly every other piece of design in this game. I love the colorful worlds. I love the unique countries. I think the combat system looks great. I'm just really, really disappointed in the apparent pandering attempted with Pyra's armor. For me, it ruins it all and is why I'm avoiding it.
I don't like her outfit too. Mind you, only the outfit, not her figure. Games are always full of handsome / hot guys and cute / great looking girls. People love good things, and body figure is one of them. That outfit is absolutely weird, unfitting and unrealistic, but I don't think this one thing can ruin the whole game.
I respect your opinion though, it's just that the regular argument on this topic is tiring.
Well negative takes usually bring more discussion than positive outlooks. Easier to say what you don't like than what you do.
World design has always been good with XB and that's something I'm looking forward for to release.
I do not agree with negativity being more discussion, but rather the world loves bashing rather than praising because many people think good things are granted (but they are not).
Translation:
Can you guys do whatever I want to? guyyys???
Okay, let's talk about the world design;
So far it looks delightful, but just for the gimmick of the titans rather than that it looks...empty? Empty and some times really unispired
If you remove the alien type or titan things, it just "The JRPG plateu: Strikes BACK, AGAIN"
Emptiness could be beneficial to depict a huge world. In Xenoblade 2, people are living on the titans(!), it's no surprise that the world designer want to leave some space to show that the land is vast. I think we really need to play the game before commenting on the map design regarding its density, but we may judge visual for now.
And... it looks amazing, even better than Xenoblade X. For example, in that mechanical country, cable cars are moving around. They may be for transporting mines, or even people. "Can I hop on the cars and enjoy the scenery?" I immediately had this thought when the trailer showing that scene. This gives players great imagination, and I totally love these kinds of things.