
Several things to note:
<1> In Levelling up by eating, the game has been running for quite a while, thus it clearly had more complexities compared to "REAL" here, which relatively only been released.
<2> In Eating, the game concept are more inline with something like OG... closer to what the usual RPG actually but with more (Legendary) class than you can count, while in Meal, the game concept was more inline with something like Toaru Ossan VRMMO or City of sanctuary; the 'battle-game' aspect was less compared to 'another life' aspect.
<3> About degree of freedom, this things is pretty much debatable. The developer herself said so: don't think this game as mere game, think outside of the box....

Thé fact that you need to « think outside the box » in general is just weird. A great setup could have been added, yet they complicate things and make the feel of the story more bland than it should. I get that it’s a new game or whatnot, not it doesn’t really excuse worldbuilding :/// I don’t get any pumped up feelings when the MC fights in the game or when he cooks, it’s just super bland because of the environment. I like the plot don’t get me wrong, but the atmosphere ruins some of it for me
Listen I like this but where are they even fighting??? An open field??? A forest???? A lot of it is super vague and it really doesn't set up quite the mood I was hoping for. Not to compare this to Leveling Up By Only Eating, but that manhwa has the same base with more fleshed out environmental factors. I'm I feel like something is missing here