I pretty much always prefer open world, or at least something interconnected like a Metroidvania. Linear makes me feel like my back is against the wall.

I like both, but if it doesn’t at least aim for realism, then I see it as very much futuristic fantasy. Star Trek and Star Wars are both very much fantasy.

Hmm, the emperor Beld, resurrected for the sole purpose of killing the evil Goddess Cardice by the grand Wizard Wart; but due to some magical shenanigans

Considering it’s pretty easy to make the main character insanely overpowered, I’ll be in a pretty comfortable position. My biggest issue will be that it was the Japanese version, and I don’t know Japanese. 🤔

Record of Lodoss War: Advent of Cardice, on Dreamcast - despite being a glorified fan game with non-canon story - deserved more notoriety than it received. That and other Neverland action rpgs like Shining Force Neo, and Shining Force Exa.