GAMER LOUNGE 20XX (NO CASUALS!!)

[Koh]

This is why spinoff series exist, I say. If they want to completely change the foundation like that, fine, make a spinoff series that uses that kind of gameplay. But don't do that to a game series with an established gameplay style, and claim it to be part of the same series, because you immediately alienate half, or more, of your fanbase by doing that.

Good examples of series knowing when to make a spinoff series for different gameplay styles: Pokemon (Mystery Dungeon side series), Dragon Quest (It has a Mystery Dungeon type subseries too, as well as a Monster Raising sub-series, Dragon Quest Monsters), etc.

If they want Sticker Star type gameplay, they should've just made a spinoff series for that, instead of fouling up what people thought to be an RPG series. It's not forgiven like experimental 2nd releases in series, like Zelda 2, Final Fantasy 2, Doki Doki Panic Mario 2, Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories or Castlevania 2. There was no established gameplay style from just the first game, so they were seeing what else works, but after the reception of those and the making of the 3rd games, they should know, by then, what kind of gameplay style to keep.