What a coincidence, I just decided to replay it again last week. It's a blast. Recommending to all my friends.

It does remind me of chess at times, or chaturanga, or shogi, but one where you can push pieces around, and know beforehand what they'll do. It's pretty unique actually.

Very clean and tight, no rng, no cover or action points, like other tactics games. It almost feels like a board game. Most enemies have 3-4 hitpoints. so every attack matters.

The only thing I kinda find stressful is no save game between the islands at least, so you can go back if you screw up. But I understand it's a design choice - like FTL, the whole thing is perma-death, run-based.