This game is amazing. I have played Expedition 33, FF7 Rebirth and Baldur's Gate this year, but this game has made a place in my heart on top of them all. I played it for 50 hours and bought it again on this account to support the devs. It has inspirations from Earthbound, Zelda, even Evangelion and many others. It gives you this great feeling of going on a grand adventure that I haven't felt in many other games. I would not call it a metroidvania or platformer, but a 2D adventure game.

Don't be intimidated by the couple of bad reviews, this game grows on you, it builds momentum and doesn't let go. This is not the kind of game you play in a rush, it demands patience and to be immersed in the world. So many charming moments are given through little details.

In regards to common complaints, I would like to comment a few points. The start is very hard, but I would recommend using some of the accessibility options that the game has available (for example increasing invulnerability time after being hit). It is hard in a good way, it makes you be smart and use every item you get to survive, and to take each enemy encounter with caution. Some people complain about the combat, but it is designed in this way. Enemies are obstacles to be tackled with wit. It makes you use all the tools available. If you expect to clear every encounter by tackling it head-on, beating the critters as you would do in Hollow Knight, you will have a bad time. Inventory space is also limited, but this encourages you to use your items and keep collecting more to stay alive. And then when you are able to increase inventory space it makes all the more rewarding.

Finally, I would like to add that this game has a lot of NPCs, so be prepared to read lots of dialogues. Every single character has so much personality, and the writing constantly reaches the heights of Earthbound and Undertale. It is one of the reasons I am calling it an 'adventure' game. I know some people hate reading too much in their game, so be prepared for that. Personally, all the writing elevated the game even more for me.

So yes, give this game a chance, because it really deserves it. It has an incredible amount of passion put into it.