Auto-regen doesn't break the game unless you somehow open the lid and fill 'er up for free. =/

I agree that the game is a gem. Most of the shortcomings I've seen people list are completely superficial (monkey tale, people look like kids, it's hard, etc.) and not even worth addressing. And while I consider myself to be quite good at the game, even I can't sit around and do 1000 rope-skips or race Hippaul to level 99. It's good that there are mini-games that hard, though. I think it's the best in the numbered PSX series, anyway.