After playing this for 15 hours I stumble across a few screenshots of the original game (was looking at how to get Woo Beans, see, I only have two) and boy, it looks super plain by comparison. Easy to take the new detail for granted after a while - both versions look superb in their own ways however.
My favourite thing about Superstar Saga is just how unpredictable it can be, the interconnected overworld, which itself is filled with secrets and soft- and hard-lock paths, is one of its standout things and something the other games in the series have lacked. Especially the last two. You could take just one look at the world maps of Dream Team and Paper Jam and practically guess where you're heading to next. By comparison, despite having played Superstar Saga three times since release, it's still surprising me in its order of events and how it all unfolds.
I hope revisiting the original game, and putting a lot of love into this remake, will reinvigorate Alphadream for their next RPG (on the Switch?). It's rare to see the original developer return to their first work 14 years later - especially with second party relationships such as this. Usually these sorts of projects are handed off to another dev with little or no input from the original staff. This game is a rare triumph in that respect.
