AWESOME! Lookin' forward to the rest!
I friggin' loved this game, and I still go back to it to play certain levels (like the big sand valley one that you slide through). I never turn the internet connection off, though, so I always end up meeting someone and getting attached to them as we stroll along. I've finished the game at least two or three times with another person solely because I felt like I couldn't leave 'em in the middle (each time I had only turned the game on to mess around a bit).
And hell, I'll be honest: I teared up at the ending. I kinda figured where it was going, but the imagery just plucks all those right chords. Music too, of course - went and bought that soundtrack straightaway.
Anyway: Great game, and I'm glad you two got around to experiencing it!