Thought it was a jrpg, but it’s a top down zelda-like with an over world similar to final fantasy with wacky dialogue and tone of Earthbound. Feels like America in the eyes of Japan. It’s all cola, dates from American history, banana cream pie and kids overindulging, baseball, Dr. Jones, big apple, etc. Made the game charming though because it felt very distinct although basic.

It upgrades nearly every aspect of the original zelda: controls, secrets, dungeon layouts and giving clues to players, enemy variety is pretty good, no reliance on having specific items to progress, it’s linear but has the allusion of openness, dialogue, music is very catchy but overplayed, etc. my favorite NES game as far as I remember. Although the original mario is amazing, there’s something about this weird and charming game.