The use of pixel art is very common, and well, as far as I know they wanted a Zelda like game, just because are similar dosen't mean is a copy. They weren't trying to make an original game just demonstrate a point.
It's not just the pixel art. It's the style of houses, grass, the color scheme, and the whole map. It's not that I think they deserve to be sued! But the similarity is so high, it is simply confusing to play this when you have played Zelda a lot in the past.
I think I would disagree in the similarity to LttP--not that it's not somewhat similar, but because there are games that are much, much closer to LttP, and which I still consider "different." GraalOnline[1] is one example.
In fact, I would sort of call "Zelda-style 2D top-down action-adventure game with swords, shields, and various key inventory items that each serve an overworld function" a genre (a subgenre to Metroidvania games, in particular), in the way that tower defense and DotA games are also now genres.
My first look at it had me thinking of Earthbound, actually.
But it's not so similar that I would call it a copy of anything. How long has it been since you played LttP? Those trees aren't at all the same and the ground is much too flat.
