“just VERY American in its themes, its gags, even its puzzles…”
I’ve been trying to get this into words myself and I think you’ve nailed it.
I finished the game, with the help of walkthroughs.
But, while I’m not an expert adventure gamer, I think this was the first were (even though I am a native English speaker) I felt everything was a foreign language to me. The gags, the names of items, the logic paths.
I love the artwork and early 3D renders in game, but compared to DOTT I just can’t find the appeal.