I'm not into "Nuzlockes" as a participant, which is a personal thing, but the handheld vibes are immaculate. I love the specificity of the art style: I feel like many pixel art games these days have a very general, homogenized view of the platform style or "Look" that they're mimicking, kind of like novice filmmakers trying to make digital "look like film" (Which kind of film? Technicolor? Minority Report?). Though it's not that similar visually, walking around in the town reminds me of Legend of the River King, I think.
There was one thing I found extremely confusing in the early game, when the player is told to go west. It takes the player to a screen where they are then immediately supposed to go east. I kept trying to go west and being pushed back to the town, so it's a bit confusing and feels a little like tank controls. I suggest maybe adding a trail sign arrow right at the start of the mountain map?