Thanks, it definitely helps :)
I decided to change the engine because I was getting burnt out of describing environmental details and thought via a 2d approach I can put more creativity into dialogues and scenes rather than describing how the yellow sun torches the soil underneath your feet.
However, the 2d game will diverge in terms of gameplay compared to the text game, the changes are described here https://www.patreon.com/posts/malevolent-77497184
I'm planning on making exploration more centric around the ship and hub areas, like the Citadel was in Mass Effect. Precisely what you said, you're not sure you've seen all there is to see, is what led me to think about some things. I was working a lot on developing content, but I had to hold the players' hands to actually get to see that content and I figured I went wrong somewhere.
Now, I think I know where I went wrong and that's why the 2d will diverge from the text game. Because I was also focusing on adding content to the open world village map, I also neglected focusing on the main story plot that would have had you repair your ship and fly out to space.
I hope the changes I'm making will be to your taste as well, since I'm always happy when I hear that someone liked something I did :)