I’m about 80% of the way through it and it’s been not just a welcome distraction from a stressful couple of weeks, but one of my favourite things I’ve played in a long time.
Pretty chill, but still with some challenge on higher difficulties. Wonderful art style and satisfying fold-in on themselves level design. The writing is good and succinct with what could be just another cozy game unfolding into something more varied in tone and having genuine things to say about regional identity, tourism, and commerce at the expense of locals.
What really (pleasantly) surprised me was what a love letter it was to all sorts of great past video games. Sometimes via a specific mechanic, sometimes a themed level or ability. Persona, Mario Galaxy, Zelda, Ico, SSX Tricky, Fez, classic RPGs, you name it.
Anyway, I think it’s pretty neat.
This I’d a very good (and more succinct) write up than mine. I’m almost at the very end now (two dungeons left) and it stays kid friendly. The stakes get a bit higher but if it had one of those movie classification warnings it would be ‘moderate peril, mild threat’.