It's a Mega Man game and I get that it needs to stick to its roots, but I feel like this could have been so much more than a shiny coat of paint on an existing franchise. The platforming and boss battles are still best in class, but it's also super short with not too much going on in the endgame. The item shop kind of kills any challenge one would get on normal mode. The game also leans heavily on the Double Gear mechanic which I didn't find very interesting.

I would have liked to have seen more levels or perhaps the option to play as different characters. There aren't even any secrets in the main levels like games that were released 30 years ago on the NES!

It definitely feels like a "get it on sale" kind of game at its normal price tag of $30 (and I did get it on sale!), so while it's fun, the limited play time makes it hard to recommend otherwise.

I really enjoyed Sea of Stars. The visuals, sounds, and RPG mechanics absolutely hit the vibes of SNES/Genesis RPGs that have defined so much. You can tell a lot of love went into this game.

I do think the storytelling was weak. It does get a bit better as the game progresses, but overall I don't think Valere and Zale are strong characters. Whether or not they were meant to be semi-silent protagonists is a bit of a grab bag, but I just didn't think they contributed much to dialogue or character development. The other main party members hit the mark.

Likewise, I found the postgame, especially all those damn Conch Shells, do be a major drag. Fortunately it's not required but with a guide it's not too rough.

Absolutely scratches the 90's JRPG itch. I would recommend.