[AThreatToYou]

The reason why it's a square
The continent is broken up into coordinates, and between each coordinate terrain is formed. Kind of like this
MAP:
. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
So in order to make the most efficient use of the available space, the map is built almost fully in this square grid. (c=impassable canyon)
c c c c c c c c c c
c. . . . .c. .w. . .c
c. .b. . .c.c. .o. .c
c. . .c.c. .c. .c.c.c
c. .b. . . . .c.b. .c
c. . . o . .c. .o. .c
c.w. . . .c. . . .w.c
c c c c c c c c c c
In order to create a more "natural" design with 3 footholds, grid space and thus memory would be wasted, reducing the amount of players that can be fit into this space.
. . . . .c.c. . . .
. . .c.c.w.c. . . .
. .c. . . . . .c. .
. .c. . . . . .c. .
.c.w. . . .c.c. . .
.c.c. . . .c. . . .
. .c. . . . .c. . .
. .c. . . . . .c. .
. .c. . . . . c . .
. . .c. .w. .c. . .
. . .c. . .c. . . .
. . . .c.c. . . . .

So, yet another sacrifice that was made in order to fit 2k players on a cont.