This game really exceeded my expectations, yet it also fell behind in some areas. The gameplay loop of exploring the open areas and collecting iconic DQ monsters is the core of the experience. They also have dungeons in each area which are hit or miss. Some of them are really fun, while others can be a convoluted mess. Synthesizing towards stronger monsters becomes addicting, especially if you find one you really want. One aspect I'm conflicted about is the story. In some aspects it goes beyond the generic DQ story with you playing as the villain and seeing Psaro's descent into hating humanity. Yet the way the story is told can feel pretty bland and disconnected at times. The story is enough to get you through the experience and not much more. Get ready to hear the same couple of midi DQ tracks, since this game hardly has any original tracks to call it's own. The performance is iffy. In some portions it's fine, but when the weather changes or in certain spots it tends to dip a little bit. The graphics/art style I actually really like, some of the areas are really pretty and feature pretty seasonal changes. Overall, this game is something that really surprised me. I planned on skipping it entirely but since I've gotten my hands on it it's been hard to put it down. This game is honestly a great time, but with a little more effort it could have been so much more. Highly recommend for fans of monster catching, Dragon Quest, or someone looking for a simple JRPG.