The platforming is just so good; it is mario sunshine levels of expression but with better level design and overall pacing. The atmosphere is beautifully realized and I think the absence of any menuing is perfect for this game. Lots of people have complained about a lack of a map, but adding a map can have lots of downsides. First, and most important for me, it encourages players to interrupt play constantly. Further, it also allows players to pay less attention to their surroundings. Finally, it can make players take fewer risks on challenging platforming challenges. It's hard to say you can sequence break this game since it's so open, but there were definitely platforming sections I did on my first playthrough that would have been trivial if I had the right powerup. Without it, it was challenging and rewarding. If a map signals where to proceed, a player might never get 'lost' and have to overcome a unique platforming challenge to proceed.