Ok, so I finally got a chance to start WoL...
It’s okay.
It’s very intricate, and there is a lot going on that the game doesn’t explain. Like the broken paths on the map - you need to know what certain characters are capable of in order to figure out who to use, but you don’t have descriptions of the characters...but then there’s a really good chance you got the spirit you need in a previous mode as well. Guts Man was my open-the-game Spirit, and evidently he’s able to fix bridges? So those aren’t a roadblock?
The Spirit battles are clever in how they get the right color/effects/etc, but a lot are stupid hard. Add that to the fact that you may or may not be able to unlock your mains quickly, and you’re having a tough time. I’m running 70% of my fights with Link, but I’ve yet to encounter anyone else I can really play well.
Some of the Sprirt classes are also weird. I’m still mad that Tails, one of the most well-known player 2s in gaming, who got a downgrade from the last game now that his Mii costume is gone, is stuck as a 3 star support while there are so many more obscure characters who managed primary and/or legend class. Also the fact that there are so many interchangeable support spirits in the first place (I haven’t gotten Tails, but I bet his support is something useless that I already have as well). It’s starting to hit the same problems as most ‘gotta catch em all’ games in that you have a handful you use constantly, and the rest sit in your box and rot.
The map could use indicators for Spirit battles you’re bypassing - I have a tough time against three stars now, so I don’t even attempt four stars yet...but I don’t want to forget where they are when I’m strong enough. Also there are no overworld maps for the interior locations that can be hit, so I’m blindly feeling my way there.
Final rating: meh. It’s not bad, but it does get repetitive, and I’m still not sure I understand want I’m doing.
I’m one of those people who actually loved the Great Maze, so I was hoping for more platform-y stuff than just “battle the computer with various conditions.” A simple port of Smash Run would have been fun.