A simple game that is boosted heavily by how dang charming it is. The marshy combat is about as deep as a kiddie pool but it’s hard to deny that it’s pretty satisfying, and exploring the levels is where the real meat is for me. The semi low poly environments look utterly gorgeous on psp, and even though there’s a bit of chuggy slowdown at times when too much is on screen, the game runs well for the most part.

The writing is really nothing special. The jokes are corny and the characters are pretty flat, but this thing rides high on vibes and presentation. The simple yet effective cinematography of the cutscenes adds a layer of gravitas to the whole affair, and it’s very endearing to watch the monster village rebuild to its former glory as you help them out and strengthen your bonds with the villagers. It’s adorable! I love all the little touches and aesthetic flourishes, they really go a long way in enhancing the experience. If I played this when I was a little kid it probably would’ve become a major core memory game for me.

I’m an outsider to Nihon Falcom (this is the first I’ve played from them), though I know this game is a bit of an outlier in their repertoire, so I’m definitely interested to see how I’ll feel when I get to their other more remembered games than this one.