What more do you want in an RPG? Please don't say platform puzzles, or so help me I'll...
Platform puzzles would have been nice.

you grumble about the conversation, and also about the combat. But, other than combat and conversation, what do you want from a RPG?
I was not grumbling about the conversation. I was simply posting my experience, as I perceived it, in written form. The combat, at least the small amount that I saw, was grumble-worthy. Although that may be due to me having higher-than acceptable expectations for combat systems in console games.
I was also unaware that you were able to sandbox from the get-go and leave the town.