okay so glad I'm not dumb lol. I would say that it might be my lack of playtime but it seem map knowledge is very important. oh another suggestion/request is; maybe add a permant map/codex/index/legend feature where I could see what is at a locations or who hangs around there.
also add a jornal mechanic for npcs like for example if you played LOZ majoras mask, maybe add a item like the "bombers notebook" kind of journal that explain characters for a more non clue story/fixed position like shopkeeps and that fortune teller person u ewere talking about. specifically where/when to find them, what they do for you and little tidbit/lore/description about them
also another thing is what stores sell makes no sense to me, also what do books even do, like are they clue relevant or they skills/spells or consumables?
I hope my comments are coming off as constructive criticism and not over negative, so here here are some positive thoughts
I like how the birthday does something at character creation idk what it is but It does, but i can tell it has to do with astrology.
I ran into a yokai in the water on the beach, killed it, overall interesting encounter, when all I fought so far was rando thug, random protestor, and drunk guy I think, a wild yokay appearing was a welcome and sudden change lol