Review scoopings 5/5 · Mar 2, 2025
Cozy and Addictive - As A GB RPG Should Be
Preliminary: I haven't played this since my original project of "FFs in chronological order" back in 2019. The title screen music is a jam for sure. And this beginning sequence is reminding me more of Zelda/Link's Awakening than the earlier FFLs.
Yessss the dramatic tune in the temple type place the Elder leads you to at the beginning. I'm going …
Preliminary: I haven't played this since my original project of "FFs in chronological order" back in 2019. The title screen music is a jam for sure. And this beginning sequence is reminding me more of Zelda/Link's Awakening than the earlier FFLs.
Yessss the dramatic tune in the temple type place the Elder leads you to at the beginning. I'm going to miss the Monster feature and variety of classes, basically, in the earlier FFLs, but also kinda excited for a simple method of leveling up etc. More of a classic JRPG, but on the GB and with the cool simulation-related plot lines of the early SAGAs. I thought this had been my least favorite of the FFLs? But I can't be sure. So far, I'm really liking it!
Early Game
Wait there is a Beast/Monster aspect to the game? I need to do more research.
Wow the equipment seems very hastily typed out. Such random capitalization and lazy naming. Hmmm not a good sign.
I really like the jump aspect ^.^ Consistently good music so far and I like that it remembers your last selection during battles. Still, not fully clicking rn but may just be the day.
Dang, that cave boss in the Past was tough! This really is quite neat, even if it's taking a bit for me to fully click. It has Zelda-esque past/future trickery, interesting abilities that actually engage with the environment rather than just battle uses, and a classic GB Look. And super interesting how you're basically upgrading this Talon machine.
Jeez Ashura so early in the game?!
Yessss to the Berth unit giving basically a free Inn readily accessible. Time to do some grinding, for fun! Odd I have a vague memory of CatClaw being endgame weapon in the prior FFLs, but I just got it from a regular enemy. Hm. Lots of peculiarities, but I am fully in the RPG hook! It helps that I really like most the tunes, tho they do get repeated a lot at least they are all bangers. Especially for a GB game!
Mid Game
I guess I'm considering the trip to Floatland via the Rocket as mid game? The equipment screen seems to be getting a bit glitchy? It wont let me equip an item sometimes but then I go back in and it does. Odd.
Not only is the music for Maitreya's tower amazing but also I love the Maitreya sprite! 
Oh duh what I thoguht was a glitch with the equipment earlier was just when inventory is full :-p So it goes with early RPGs. Inventory management... same with npcs getting in my way for long periods lol thank goodness for fast forward. Oh and slow walking too of course.
Ohhh I kept wondering why I was keeping precious inventory space used for these different elemental stones, sounds like there's a synthesis aspect later. Very impressive game for GB!
Dang I'm flying through this! That's a sign of a good RPG: the hook has been intense and I haven't focused on OSRS at all (despite needing to level prayer argh)
The puzzles in the water rooms remind me of the Seafoam Islands puzzles, and any of the Strength-related puzzles in the first gen of Pokemon.
Yesss I even have basically stores and now synthesis on the Talon/ship! Very neat. Like a portable town.
I wish I had realized so many of the Accessories protect from different status ailments, I got rid of some useful ones. I also didn't go for all the Light, Fire, etc. Stones. Didn't realize I'd synthesize those later!
Welp I now have the XCalibur and Sun Sword and other classic signals of end game so I'm calling it late game :-p
Late Game
Lol at bosses and enemies sometimes being "strong to Damage" and outright seeming to ignore Damage sometimes. Excuse me :-p (I did some research and it is quite literal. You need special weapons in order to overcome that)
Wow another map/world/overworld (Underworld... oh boy). Expansive game for a GB game! Reminds me of Lagrange point, FF4 (with the multi-use ships), and the Phantasy Stars in how expansive it is. Best part is, it's not overstaying its welcome (assuming I am Late Game... then again the earlier FFLs overstayed their welcome only at end game, with so many bosses, but I arleady got a few of the equipment items those usually protect). And even with the Underworld theme being dungeon-y and a type I usually don't click with, the rhythm still makes it a bit of a banger. And I like the Look (dancing mushrooms!) and tune of the mushroom areas 
Uff those Towers. All I gotta say is, thank goodness for maps and guides. I still heavily have that RPG hook, which says a lot about this game. It has its archaic and flawed qualities, but really it's everything I look for in an early JRPG.
Tho it had the qualities of multiple worlds almost being on planes/levels, it certainly was more alike a Lagrange Point or Phantasy Star in that, unlike the first FFL's absurd setup of going up a tower with many worlds along the way, it was more a traditional sci-fi-inspired RPG. One part that reminded me of the first FFL, tho, was the town you can access from the Underworld.
These last parts are thankfully forgiving with the frequency of healing spots. Uggggh I didn't make a Flare spell for the final bit, I was wondering when I would get that. And I even saved the Fire Stones for it! Argh
I'm glad some new tunes for the final bosses, always a sign of a game that they put love into, tho I didn't necessarily love the truly final boss tune. (Well okay it was quite a jam)
God this ending text for dialog seems even slower than usual. But some nice triumphant music. I need to get some OSRS in tonight tho ahhh. Some loopy logic with the time factor at the end there lol.
Not a very sentimental ending screen lol 
Look: 8.5/10 Classic, cozy GB Look. Nothing super spectacular but some great Looks along the way.
Sound: 9/10 Nice surprise.
Play: 9/10 Some faults for sure, but can't deny that RPG hook, and impressively expansive feeling for a GB game, yet also not too long (the earlier FFLs seemed to only feel longer by way of tedious endless strings of bosses, etc.)
Feel: 9.5/10 Brought back that special feeling of the first FFL, even if it got rid of some of the cool Monster aspects. That being said, it still has those and actually allows for more flexibility, just felt like they expected you to stick with 2 humans and 2 mutants, or at most make one of your humans a monster or robot. I had a blast playing it and ate it up real fast :-p (Basically, the less uniquely interesting and Feel-heavy plot/concept was made up for with the intense RPG hook)
Attachment: 9/10 Seems this is getting the same exact rating as the first FFL >.> The first FFL is boosted by being so early, and having that surreal/absurd concept. But this one is boosted by less tedious game than the prior 2 and a nice "return to form" imo.
Overall: 9/10
