I'll start with basic game play, then give a few hints if you get stuck. Skip the hints if you want to figure out every thing yourself. This is a simple yet fun game that can be completed in 12 hours or less simply by walking around and going back into every area a few times.

Your character's status is at the bottom left. Watch out in particular for whether you are satiated. Starving status is denoted by a brown heart and you start loosing health rapidly as you walk around. There is a cook in the first town who will explain how you can cook food. Her last task is a little confusing; see hint #3.

If your character dies, you will resurrect in a town and loose some money. Each resurrection costs more money.

Max health is 16. Max spirit is 16. You can raise health and spirit one at a time with special awards. The +1 health is a red heart, and the +1 spirit is a blue cressant.

Hint #1. Another status kicks in when you have low health or low spirit. This enables an alternate perception that enables at least one encounter you will otherwise miss. That status is risky, though, since there are constant fights when walking around the world. The only one I found (with help from my daughter) is that the druid reveals as a monster when you have low spirit, and winning the fight gives you really nice armor. Best come in with high health. Other encounters might require the reverse (low health, high spirit) and I might have the druid encounter backward.

Hint #2. The cook's last task is to combine monster meat with spice. The spice is sold in the store on the upper-left of the map.

Hint #3. There are interesting encounters on the far lower right of the map, past the most dangerous monsters.

Hint #4. Getting frustrated to finish the game? You need to fill the pots in the tutorial area with special items. Bump around that area afterward to talk to someone and open a portal to the island.

Hint #5. Can't find the shape changer? Look in the farm right next to that town.