1. Short game-time (20-25 minutes)

* That just isn't a lot of time to adequately develop a game's ideas except in a 24-hour contest context.

2. Grindy battle system (only superficially interesting)

* You picked one dragon type and had it all game long
* Strengths and weaknesses system like Chrono Cross but less fun
* At no point did your selection of attacks change
* You basically had to guess (or there was a formula, but it was stupid) for what to do with any given situation
* The game was very grindy, about 3-4 levels of just grinding with no progress.
* Battle controls were a little confusing in an effort to be simple

3. No variety of play

* There's only one real thing to do in the first game and that's fight, rest, level up, and fight some more.

4. No real plot

* There's three poems that outline a story so vague you don't know if Dargan is the good dragon or the bad dragon.

1. Intended length of play: 30-120 minutes

* This one kind of speaks for itself

2. Anti-grinding & tactical battle dynamics

* Smaller level cap (or quicker leveling) with at least some (maybe not all) item-based leveling
* Colors opposed becomes a color wheel for strategy of attacks
* Resistances and effectiveness can get up to 200% (absorbing damage)
* Main dragon is "colorless" and can switch up/develop colors as needed
* Rethink how the energy bars are working, or if they're strictly necessary
* Some kind of "press turn" reward? * Alternate enemy types besides just dragons
* Some kind of interesting shield option

3. Exploration & Secrets!

* Actually have some exploration options
* Dragon gets spells/abilities that can be used in field ala Golden Sun
* Puzzles/1-2 dungeons
* Secrets
* Secret boss?
* Dragon tournament mode or segment?
* Alternate creatures to recruit for second playthrough?

4. Keep what was good about the original

* Poetry in the original was decent but sparse. Make more, add prose as needed.
* Graphics were good. Keep these, see if we cane make more.
* Sound was also good.
* Battle effects good. Make them better.
* Create a UI that has the same simplicity of look without the confusing controls.