You end up being able to get a map of every explorable area. Have you been using them?
Personally, I've been trying to get through each chapter by getting my bearings manually first, and occasionally checking the map if I get lost. It's especially annoying since the viewport for maps is so small, you end up doing a lot of scrolling to get a good look of everything. Then there's the sort of handmade quality of the maps which, while making them seem more authentic, I feel hurts their usability.
The one area I thought I would need it the most -The caverns- I was actually able to get by without. Surprisingly, I've been needing it mostly when backtracking the mansion.