This is a rare DNF for me, it never happens with mario games, rpg or otherwise.

I just couldn't be bothered to continue. The aesthetics are bland and ugly, the character/enemy designs are out of place in what is supposed to be a quirky way, but it just feels jarring to me. Enemy and boss designs are as forgettable as it gets.

Gameplay is fine, but it is miles behind any other mario rpg. Combat QTEs are poorly communicated and the timing often feels arbitrary. If you don't have a manual you basically won't be able to know what any status effect does, or even what they look like.

The game progression is a bog-standard maguffin hunt, in a world that is a beeline of uninspired areas one after another, each and every one ruined by the godawful art style and confusing isometric perspective.

The main cast has some interesting character designs, but that's it. You can barely even call them characters, they have basically no personality, dialog or development.

I reached the point where you get the sixth star and just gave up out of pure boredom.

I know this is a highly revered game, and I'm sure that it has charmed many people. Unfortunately, I just can't see the appeal.