[Lord Sephiroth]

I guess it depends what you're going for, really. As Graal has evolved I've noticed that a lot of developers, myself included, are aiming for realism over functionality, and hoping to fit enough content into their miniature world to make them not seem like "wasted space". At least, that's the effort I've been putting in. I never liked how you could be in one level, a grassy town, then if you go Left a level, Up a Level, then Left a level, you're in some snowy castle.

Graal back in its day was simpler and as Crono said, with the introduction of gmaps, developers have almost been forced to favor a more realsitic image.