First area is just a game over. You have to get past the desert.
Ah gotcha. Just double checking the previous game's transfer thing worked properly. Thanks!
I would suggest to eventually add some kind of game over sequence for there, rather than just a 'return to title'. Art wouldn't necessarily be required, just some text? Like if you lose at the end of the gauntlet of groups later on.
Probably won't add anything too fancy there, but yeah, maybe a game over screen at some point.