We had a small town with some personality (not that they were all that great but they were there) with the few characters. The puzzles were kind of slim (but numerous at least). Now we have a bunch of barely used characters but the puzzles are nice and thick.
Doesn't even have a map. Not that I'm asking for one of those marker laden monstrosities. I mean there are other 5 by 5 games out there and they have maps. The combat modes seem a bit fancier than I recall stuff of that time period having. Not that it makes things all that complicated. I'm referring to the 3 kinds of attack not the other part which is kind of like what Hydlide had. Only one world but it makes up for it by not having the dungeons Tetris blocked together so they have room to be grand. Also, there's more than one boss.
Most of the game is pretty fun and goofy. Some of the late game enemies are a bit too thick though even with their weaknesses and my party at max level. Well okay maybe I was supposed to use the upgrade foods and such, but money is finite (because the enemies are finite too).
stayed for everything else.
This has been called creepy, surreal, emotional, maybe even charming and yes it has moments of all of these. While it has all of those none of them actually encompass it but 2 of them sure try. I think "vibrant" certainly encompasses it. As far as gameplay mechanics: it's a bit like chu-lip if they decided to go for a more classic adventure style and didn't have all that teeth kicking (some puzzles REQUIRED you to take damage for one). You also get an adorable party that you can switch to playing as.
Aside from the usual parodying done in previous titles much of this could be seen as hitting the likes of N64 and Play Station 1 titles. Most visible to me was Ocarina but if the big near empty fields are part of the joke they probably should have lightened the use a little. Anyone who read the summary of or managed to play 4 would have kind of seen the ending coming. Wish I could play 4 myself actually.
