Gameplay takes place in overworld screens (where you move to various places) and in actual locations.
2
The character sprites also look better when in side scrolling levels than in the overworld.
3
The overworld connects the places you visit, such as towns, castles, underground caves, icy mountains, etc., and serves as a small resting point where you can save and recover your health.
4
When wandering in dangerous areas or on the overworld map, one step suddenly brings a host of monsters to fight.