Ehh, Pokémon has a lot of free pass in this “old fashioned mechanics”.

Let’s remember Pokémon only had it’s first full 3-D game in 2013. DQVIII happened in 2004/2005

Heck, only ORAS has a overworld map.

I guess you don’t like Persona or Megaten games, then.

Persona 4, basically. Takes 2~3hrs to finally enter the TV World and battle/explore.

“It’s always got the same monsters”,

Nope, there are the classic designs but the games always add new ones, similar to Megaten.