I would really dig a "crossover" or callback of any kind of Mystic Quest...

[Ilyrian]

Isn't it just a reminder that Squaresoft in the 90's thought westerners were stupid?

[_Koneko_]

Isn't it just a reminder that Squaresoft in the 90's thought westerners were stupid?

to be fair sega also though the west didn't want rpgs and we saw how that ended for the saturn

[Terin]

Isn't it just a reminder that Squaresoft in the 90's thought westerners were stupid?

Kinda-sorta true, BUT! It isn't actually a bad game. It even had a couple lines of clever dialogue, as I remember. It's just... very simple, and VERY forgiving. But if you're someone who hasn't played a turn-based RPG before, it probably wouldn't be a bad option to recommend, at least in terms of mechanics (the story just doesn't really do anything terribly interesting).

I'll say that, even beyond the music, the enemies got some AMAZING sprites! Plus, they actually show combat-damage, which even to this date is an extreme rarity.

But in saying that, I'd totally have Benjamin's appearance be something played for laughs. Just an Hildebrand is lovable because he's so oblivious, maybe Benjamin arrives in Eorzea and is the only one who seems to have a realistic reaction to HOW incredibly high-stakes the story has gotten (ie. Urianger starts explaining how Primals are summoned, and Benjamin stopping him like "I'm sorry, WHAT?!? What do you mean these are 'world-ending threats'? Like, they can literally end the world? And you want US to fight them? Are you OUT of your MIND?!?!?")

Just make it kind of a goofball who is in way over his head, and he knows it.