An RPG that was 20 years ahead of its time, and yet, clearly influential. This game is a portrait of the surreal; while not the first game with surrealist elements by any stretch of the imagination, it really uses its abstract nature to set itself apart from other RPGs of the time and since. It’s clear that the main goal of this game is to set an emotional connection with the player, and that it does in spades. However, I feel that also took away focus in tightening up the gameplay — grinding, cryptic strategy, and a clumsy item system are some gripes I have personally, but they’re also a general fault of the JRPG system as a whole, so I can’t dock major points for that. In the end, I enjoyed the experience, and it really is unlike anything else of its time. I look forward to playing Mother 3.