If you want to try playing with this, but don't feel like compiling your own MicroPython firmware, I prepared a build for the ESP8266 with the #D1 Mini X-Pad Shield and an ST7735 display module: https://github.com/deshipu/micropython/releases/download/v1.10-34-g711238a95-dirty/firmware-combined.bin

I also updated and rebased the "stage" branch, here: https://github.com/deshipu/micropython/tree/stage