So, let's explore
Paldea's map!
(1.) Adventure Start:
We'll start where all Pokemon Adventures start, at our house at the very bottom of the map! Right across from our home is the presumed Professor's House where we get our Starter. BTW, the trailer shows there's two NPCs along the path between the two houses, one of them being the "Science is amazing" guy. We also meet Nemona at this time and go down the stairs behind the house to the beach where there's a (blue) battlefield where we likely have our first Rival Battle. However, if we look back at the new trailer, we learn something else about this beach: this seems to be where we first encounter Koraidon/Moraidon. I doubt this will happen right after the Rival Battle with Nemona, my guess is that we'll first go to the Academy, attend some classes, be sent on the Treasure Hunt, and then we'll for some reason be asked to return to the Professor's House where we'll be lured down to the beach by Koraidon/Moraidon for them to partner-up with us. Otherwise there's nothing else left to do on this beach (at least without the ability to swim, and I suspect that Koraidon/Moraidon won't have their swimming (or flying) forms when you first partner-up.
Anyway, back to the path and we go up a long winding path which passes, among other things, a (red)
lighthouse. In the new trailer, when mentioning the 3 stories part of the Treasure Hunt, this lighthouse was shown, so it's likely this lighthouse and the others are just here for show. But likely can't do anything the first time passing by (maybe there will be a cutscene noting it, we'll see). Also, unless it's notable, I'll be skipping over any environment details. I provided you with the map, it's probably better for you to see the environment with your own eyes than be trying to explain it. Besides, until you get Koraidon/Moraidon, you probably can't explore any of it anyway.
Over the bridge next to the lighthouse and you'll come to the first town and Pokemon Center. This is just likely to be a stop to do some tutorials, begin setting up the plot, and provide a quick moment for the player to maybe get some items & catch some more Pokemon. Passing by some ponds you come to the gates of Mesagoza. Though before going in just want to note that there's yet another Pokemon Center right outside the gates, even though the small town is not that far away; so I'm going to guess there might be a major battle which occurs between exiting the small town and arriving at Mesagoza's gate (possibly right outside the gate). That or maybe they expect you to explore and get into a batch of Wild Battles so put a Pokemon Center there to save you the time (I notice the wall along the gate has a gap a bit to the right leading to a small area).
Mesagoza is a BIG city; this is what Motostoke and Wyndon should have been like! Before we even get to the Academy we see the town center/plaza is a big art piece with a battlefield in a middle of a rainbow 12-pointed star (which might be related to a speculated compass theme?) which has an inner ring displaying a symbol for each of the 18 Types as we seen in the trailers. If that wasn't enough, to the left on a lower level is another battlefield, mostly blue except half of the Poke Ball logo is like stained glass or colored cobblestone. I wouldn't find this second battlefield strange if it wasn't for there being no other battlefields in Mesagoza or how isolated it feels (at first it looks like there's a Pokemon Center right above it, but taking a careful look you'll see the Center is on a higher level and its a short run around between it and the battlefield). The right side looks to have two parks, one on the lower level near the gates and another on top to the right of the Academy (though calling it a park is a bit generous, it's more like a greenway). Before moving to the Academy want to note there is a second Pokemon Center, right in front of the south gate; which only makes the placement of the west Pokemon Center even stranger as its quite a distance away from the west gate, it's in a strange spot when you think about it.
Up a long flight of stairs at the back of Mesagoza is the Academy, finally made it... Well that was a nice trip let's finally get this road trip started! Though I'd be remissed not to point out the cave to the left of the Academy, its exit point further up and left with a path leading to a building with a battlefield on top of it (and Pokemon Center in front). Having four colored corners, its predicted this is the Pokemon League which would make that cave Victory Road. But that's for WAY later in the game (would be funny if they let us go to the Pokemon League early though, obviously can't challenge the League without the 8 Badges but would be for fun, especially if they did have something you could do up there where you need no stinkin' Badges.
(2.) To The Left, To The Left:
I think things are gonna speed up from here.
The big thing about this game is that you can go anywhere you want, challenge the Gyms in any order you want, and/or do parts for the other two stories at any time you want. But let's be honest, most will probably go either left/clockwise or righ/counter-clockwise and doing everything they can once they come across it. As much as I want to be a contrarian, for analysis sake I'll stick with the direction I did in my previous post and go left/clockwise.
We enter what looks to be a plateau. Not far from the gate is a Pokemon Center and a 2-story old, possibly
ancient tower. These ancient towers seem to have something to do with one of the other stories, maybe the same one that the lighthouses are involved with? Past the ancient tower we come to a stretch of plowed fields growing what I assume to be crops. In the middle is a town, full of green despite being in a plateau. The most notable feature of the town, aside for some reason having TWO Pokemon Centers on eitherside of it (geez GF, just put one in the middle!), is a several-story building which is actually the
Gyms in this gen/region. Usually nearby the Gyms are a battlefield of some kind, possibly designed based on the Gym Leader's preference. The one in this town looks to be made from wood & next to it is a viewing platform made on the top of trees (and its colored mostly tan with half the Poke Ball lime green); I'm guessing this is the Grass-Type Gym.
Before moving on, the plateau is connected to a green, cliff-filled area (which has a bunch of ponds near the shore) which is right next to the first town, except you're now on the cliffs overlooking it (not to mention Koraidon/Moraidon look to be able to climb sides of cliff in their land forms). While visually an explorers delight (don't think I don't see you hidden away beach area), the reason I brought this place to attention is because there's another 2-story
ancient tower here.
Now there's two ways to get to the "next town". Going from the plateau you travel winding path northwest, cross a bridge, pass Pokemon Center, and down a LONG stretch of path before reaching a mountain ridge. While we don't see the "entrance" there seems to be a cave down there as we see the other end which leads onto the most southwest cliff where an arid town is. If you went down to the cliff-filled area, then I don't see why it wouldn't be possible to take a shortcut and just climb up the side of the cliff which then has a terrace leading down to it. If its true open world that should be possible. Anyway, arid town is another with a
Gym with a nearby (purple?) battlefield covered by a dome. The arid environment and the battlefield being covered by a dome to guard it and whoever is battling from the sun gives me Fire-Type vibes. Oh. and before you leave from up there, be sure to go to the grass field above it where there's a 3-story
ancient tower in a middle of of a pool of water.
(3.) Upwards & Around Top:
Travelling up/north, you pass by a trio of windmills (and a batch of wind turbines over to the left though I don't think those are important) and approach a fork in the path. One keeps going northwest entering a cave with a sandy slope; I'm not sure where it goes. Meanwhile in front of you is a bridge, so let's cross it instead. On the other side you turn right/east, passing more windmills, and look to come to more splitting paths. One u-turns west to who knows where (the other entrance to the above mentioned cave?), the other keeps going east. Stick to the straight path and you'll arrive to the next city, BUT there's a side path which not only passes by a 2-story
ancient tower but also this routes first instance of what looks to be (navy)
race flags. These flags are connect to the third story and, well, they seem to indicate a racing mechanic? This area does have a path which loops in a circle, so it would be an ideal place for a race (it is cheating if I'm riding on a Legendary that's also a motorbike?). Well when you're ready head into the city.
Now I'm not sure if there's a path you could take which first takes you into & through the desert (maybe the sandy cave?), but nevertheless we're now in a city built on a river which passes to the side of the desert, looking like an oasis. Though don't worry, no matter what path you take there's a Pokemon Center to greet you on either end of the city. This city is another
Gym, can you guess what Typ... Water, it's Water-type.
If you haven't already, time to trudge through a desert where there's a 1-story
ancient tower toppling over somewhere in the middle. When you reach a circle of stones you know you're almost out of the sand (though it sadly got everywhere) and back on green fields and the trusty path! As you go up you hit another fork (as well as a Pokemon Center), with the left/west taking you to a port town which is overlooked by a (yellow)
lighthouse. While a town and certainly has a few places of interest, I don't believe it to be a Gym-hosting town and some images seem to confirm it. Still, those warehouses and that big building in the middle (a outdoor market?) is always worth exploring for free stuff!
Going right/east leads you too... well this is one point where the map loses me. The path suddenly stops at this cliff which has what looks to be three meteor impact sites on top, however there doesn't look to be a cave. I'm now wondering if this meteor impact slab is meant to be attached to the desert on a higher level and the path is continuing underneath it out-of-site. This is a bit supported by a visible bridge on the other side which leads to a obscured path heading into our next city.
This city has a rigid feeling to it, more industrialize with most buildings being office buildings and apartment complexes. Though one of them stands out, the
Gym building, though there doesn't look to be a battlefield. But there is this "observatory" hanging over the inside of the caldera that's in the center of the region. I would imagine "observatory" is monitoring activity inside the caldera, likely seismic activity, so assuming the Gym's Type would relate to a Town's/City's theme or notable aspect, I'm going to guess Ground-type for this one.
Now after healing at your Pokemon Center of your choice (which for some reason it has two even though it could have had just one on the main path above), you could go east immediately and start going up the snowy mountain, but you'll be missing out on an entire lake and its surroundings! Go north from the city and you'll cross a bridge that takes you to a giant lake. Now it would be at this point in the game you'd be given the ability to surf, though with the open-end style I have no idea what they're going to plan on doing. Anyway, while there's no Gyms around the lake, what there are is
THREE 2-story
ancient towers! Geez, you think that's enough? BTW, if you're looking to add a Paldean Wooper to your party, there looks to be a muddy bog on the northern side of the lake.
Now with that done (or not, as I said you could have just gone to toward the next Gym town), time to start heading up the snowy mountain. There looks to be multiple ways of tackling this (including skipping it and come back later), but gonna take the one which hits all the beats. Keeping to the path you travel the left/west side of the mountain until hitting a dead end. If you continue forward you'll find a Pokemon Center and a bit more up a (green)
lighthouse and (pink?)
race flags (doesn't look to be much of an area to race, unless your racing on the water).
Now it's time to climb up, and if you did you'll reach the next town. And look, there's the
Gym building! Awesome, and further around the mountain you can see the battlefield... and ANOTHER
Gym building. Yes, according to the map which might be showing where the Gyms are, there are
TWO Gyms in the snowy mountain (I would have thought there would be one in Mesagoza, but apparently not). Now we know on of the Gyms is Ice-type run by Grusha, likely the Gym which is right next to the battlefield as that's where his battle takes place. But what about the other Gym? Well, if there is truly two Gyms up here, and one is the obvious Ice-type, being this town is probably the highest in all of Paldea I'm going to guess Flying-type. Yes, I know, Flying-type is weak to Ice. Like, there being two Gyms up here is already throwing me off, on top of it being in a pretty awkward location and the obvious Type is confirmed. How about we start getting down?
(4.) Falling Action:
On your way down the snowy mountain do note there's a 1-story
ancient tower just after you reach the snowless part of the mountain on its right/east side. But what if you didn't want to tackle the snowy mountain yet? Well it looks like there's a an unmarked path at the southern base of the mountain, nothing Koraidon/Moraidon no doubt can rough it. If you follow the "straightest" way it would lead you to a bridge that leads up to the ancient tower.
From here there's no clear path down, from what I can tell you either go down where the ancient tower is or on the other side of the bridge. If you went down by the ancient tower you'll come across a Pokemon Center and be next to a small mountain range where the mountains have a tall, sharp black point. There doesn't look to be a direct way into it (unless you climb over), but for those on the other two storylines you'll want to get in there as not only is there
two ancient towers (a 2-story and 1-story right next to one another) but also (yellow)
race flags (and this looks like one HECK of a race track!). Though, there does seem to be more to this place than this map is letting on; that's right, its GF's good ol' tradition of hiding locations on the map with clouds! It looks like quite the chunk of land that's being covered, enough to maybe be covering the Battle Tower expy? Or maybe it has to do with the climax of the main story, with one of the stories being the League Challenge they can't just end it with the player becoming the Champion (or rather earning a Champion Rank).
Going south from the Pokemon Center (and crossing a bridge) or having gone down on the other side of the above bridge, you'll smack right dab into (purple)
race flags (I hope Koraidon/Moraidon likes mud between their tires). This area looks to be a quarry, upon entering it you'll find a Pokemon Center, and if you go straight south for a bit you'll find ANOTHER Pokemon Center (GF, I can't help but feel you could have probably combined these into one) next to a battlefield and this ancient mud/clay hut. No, this isn't a Gym, so your guess is as good as mine on what it is (and I have no clue). But one thing the quarry does have are paths, and following them leads you to a 3-story
ancient tower! And if you keep following them you get out of the quarry and down to the next city which is by the "final" (blue)
lighthouse (or I guess the second if you go the other way, the yellow lighthouse being your last one then)
This city looks pretty high tech, or at least modern. Most notable features would be the Poke Ball Logo-shaped bridge, those skyscrapers on the island in the middle of the water, and of course the
Gym! Having already done Water, considering the structure of this city, I'm going with strong Steel-type to make strong bridges, manmade islands, & towering buildings. And I guess this city is big enough to have two Pokemon Centers at either end...
Continue following the southside path, which takes a sharp turn east, and you'll run into the "final" (red)
race flags. Man, these last two race flags were easy to stumble onto, as if they were the first two race flags you'd encounter if you went the other way... oh. Well, um, following the path you'd come across a Pokemon Center, which is your hint that to the left/east of it there's a 2-story
ancient tower.
Don't bother going back to the random Pokemon Center, just keep following the path and you'll reach the "final" town (or your third human settlement if you went the other way) with the "final"
Gym (or your first Gym is you went the other... you know what I'm going to stop using the word "final"). Now we've seen images of this town in the trailer, its the one with the green battlefield and the windmill and surrounded by the potted Sunflora "status". At the time I thought this would be the Grass-type Gym... but then I saw the plateau farm town. "
Well maybe you're wrong, this place also has a hedge maze"! It certainly does feel like a fun and colorful town, doesn't it? It gives me a sort of mini-golf or country fair kind of feel. Because of this, I'm gonna make a bold claim and say this is the kind of place a Fairy-type would be.
When you're ready to leave (don't forget to stop at the gift shop in the second Pokemon Center on your way out), follow the path west into a canyon area. To those who followed the path I took, this will feel like the final trek through a rough terrain. Though, for those who chose this path first, it'll feel like a beginning of a grand adventure. Eitherway, don't forget to do the
two 2-story
ancient towers (the first two for those who went right, possibly the final two for those of us that went left).
(5.) Here We Are Again:
And with that (or rather one more Pokemon Center for good measure before re-entering Mesagoza... whose eastside Pokemon Center is right by the gate) we've made a full circle around Paldea!
BUT WAIT! There's one more rather random thing I noticed. Now, all around the coast there's been beaches and small islands, as you expect. But there's one that caught my eye: the southeast beach has a random Pokemon Center placed there.
Anyway, in the end I've counted
15 ancient towers &
5 race flags. And with there being
8 Gyms, that's quite the quantity contrast between the three story paths. Like unless the quality of each activity balances the number out, those who may find the race flags story interesting are going to get the short end of the stick. And 15 I would actually say is a lot, hopefully what you need to do at the ancient towers isn't tedious.