It really makes you feel like you getting punched in the gut by a dragon.

There are a lot of (mostly minor) issues with this game, but overall it is still among the best jrpgs there are and you are doing yourself a disservice skipping out on it.

Mixes fun gaming with storytelling unique to the medium.

Good.

If you're asking whether or not you have to play a 3D Mario game, you are video gaming wrong.

Masterpiece, nothing else to be said.