Update:

I gave this game a second look after PirateSoftware streamed a Let's play. The addition alone of the element compass was a massive quality of life improvement, and it was much easier to get back into the game than it would have otherwise been. The progression is now solid, if a little grindy - you have to keep making the same special reagents over and over out of lesser potions, but it's actually quite good fun once you get past the annoyance of running out of ingredients all the time.

I've changed my review to a recommend - it's now a proper full game with somewhere to go once you learn the basic mechanics. My only gripe is that they should TELL people that the "swirlies" are harmless and you can travel over them. I spent ages trying to edge around these things when i started playing. :/

Previous review for context:
The potential for a good game is there, but it just hasn't been realised yet. I love the art style, and the basic mechanics are interesting, but there's no story and no depth. There's also no goal or endgame - you just either increase the counters for money and ingredients, or you don't, and there's no purpose for doing either. Right now it's worth a couple of hours of fiddling about before you resort to internet lists of recipes, but not much more.

Hopefully in time the devs will flesh it out, and justify the recommendation I would love to give it.

Update: I gave this game a second look after PirateSoftware streamed a Let's play. The addition alone of the element compass was a massive quality of life improvement, and it was much easier to get back into the game than it would have otherwise been. The progression is now solid, if a little grindy - you have to keep making the same special reagents over and over out of lesser potions, but it's actually quite good fun once you get past the annoyance of running out of ingredients all the time. I've changed my review to a recommend - it's now a proper full game with somewhere to go once you learn the basic mechanics. My only gripe is that they should TELL people that the "swirlies" are harmless and you can travel over them. I spent ages trying to edge around these things when i started playing. :/ Previous review for context: The potential for a good game is there, but it just hasn't been realised yet. I love the art style, and the basic mechanics are interesting, but there's no story and no depth. There's also no goal or endgame - you just either increase the counters for money and ingredients, or you don't, and there's no purpose for doing either. Right now it's worth a couple of hours of fiddling about before you resort to internet lists of recipes, but not much more. Hopefully in time the devs will flesh it out, and justify the recommendation I would love to give it.