A little jewel of a game. Seriously.
Between the adorable low-poly graphics and blissfully nostalgic music, the atmosphere is uniquely charming. The combat is easy to pick up and feels great, but the small health bar will guarantee a good rush of adrenaline during the more intense battles. The buildup sequences before the bosses are masterful crescendos, the bosses themselves are appropriately climactic. And the secret-hunting will make you feel smart.
Some may find the absence of a map frustrating, but the world is built around that limitation, and it works just fine in practice. Don't let that deter you.