I played both episodes with a gap of many months between each other. Actually it was still 2023 when i finished the first episode. My approach to this game was the one i usually take with some FPS games, usually Doom wads: I play a map –maybe 2 or 3 if they are short – at some moment of the day where i just want to chill and have some fun without taking things too seriously. I do this when i’m going through days where i just don’t have the time to commit to a game that requires more compromise given it’s narrative, aesthetic, or some other element.

Square wasn’t exactly the ideal choice for such purpose. Mainly because it’s pretty challenging and also because maps are quite big. So that’s one thing you should have in consideration in case you’re considering to play this game: Despite it’s innocent and child-like presentation, it’s pretty hard. Of course i had fun, the game is objectively good, but probably i wasn’t in the best mindset to play it.

I think gameplay-wise, the game shows a lot of expertise: the map layering is excelent. So is the enemy placement. The problem, in my opinion, relies mostly on it’s aesthetic choices, which get too repetitive at some point, adding some tediousness to maps that are already pretty big, with certain encounters that could get a bit frustrating if you were looking for an easier difficulty.

Can’t really cite my favourite maps right now because i played this one a long time ago and i hardly remember anything specific given how samey it all was. But despite that i do recall having fun and also thinking that the layer was pretty good, kist wishing to see different colours, different textures, and so on.