- Addictive and satisfying gameplay loop
- Charming art style and characters
- Significant improvements since demo
- Mining and shop management loop
- Repetitive gameplay loop
- Frequent game freezing issues
Emotions
Players felt satisfied due to the game's overall craftsmanship, including its atmosphere, specific mechanics, and general gameplay experience. The game met or exceeded their expectations, providing good value and enjoyment, especially with improvements from the demo and the addition of depth in the full game. Specific elements like art, music, mini-games, and the ability to 'zone out' while performing tasks contributed to this feeling.
Joy stemmed from the game's overall enjoyment, often highlighted by its charming aesthetics, cute characters, and humor. The gameplay loop, specific mechanics, and mini-games were found to be fun and peaceful, contributing to a sense of overall satisfaction and a high-quality experience.
Excitement was driven by engaging and intense gameplay experiences, leading to strong recommendations and immediate purchase decisions. The overall quality of the game, specific features, and the anticipation of playing more, especially with the full release and its improvements, fueled this emotion.
Players felt engaged due to the game's immersive and addictive core gameplay loop. The story and characters also played a significant role in keeping players hooked and invested in the game's progression, particularly in relation to the debt goal.
Love for the game was an overarching feeling, often tied to the game's development and its specific genre, indicating a deep appreciation for the creators' vision and execution.
Verdict
Mostly positive
Summary
Positive 97% · Negative 3%. Score: 3 / 100
Positives:
- Players consistently praise the game's core loop of mining, refining, and selling gems as highly addictive and satisfying. Many compare it favorably to the mining mini-game in Pokemon Diamond/Pearl, highlighting its ability to provide a relaxing yet engaging experience that keeps them playing for hours.
- The game's art style, character designs, and overall visual presentation are frequently described as cute, adorable, and charming. This aesthetic contributes significantly to the game's cozy and comforting atmosphere, enhancing player enjoyment.
- Players who experienced the demo are highly impressed with the full game, noting significant and positive additions and improvements. The final release has successfully built upon the demo's foundation, adding depth and enhancing the overall experience.
- The game offers valuable accessibility options, including the ability to remove or adjust timers and a dedicated 'cozy mode'. These features allow players to customize their experience, reducing pressure and making the game more accessible and relaxing for a wider audience.
- Players recognize the significant effort and care put into the game's design and development. This attention to detail, combined with the developers' responsiveness to feedback, indicates a high level of dedication and passion for the project.
Negatives:
- Many players found the gameplay loop to be highly repetitive, leading to a lack of engagement and concerns about long-term replayability. There's a feeling that progression doesn't introduce enough new elements to sustain interest.
- Players desire more nuanced and engaging mechanics for gem cleaning and refining. The current 'press and hold' mechanic is seen as cumbersome and lacking depth, with a preference for more interactive or faster options.
- A specific bug was reported where interacting with an artifact prevents further mining in that particular spot, hindering gameplay progression.
- The dialogue in the game is perceived as being too brief and often cut short, which can detract from character interactions and story immersion.
- Some players felt the game's overall length was too short, leading to a less satisfying experience.
Gameplay:
- The game's core loop revolves around mining for resources, refining them, and then selling them in a shop. This combination creates a unique blend of resource management and economic simulation, often compared to other popular farming/life-sim games.
- The game incorporates strict time limits and recurring debt payments, creating a constant sense of urgency and pressure. Players must efficiently manage their time to meet these financial obligations.
- For players who prefer a more relaxed experience, the game includes a 'cozy mode.' This mode allows players to explore the mines and progress at their own pace without the pressure of time limits or debt.
Performance:
- Players are experiencing frequent game freezes, particularly when interacting with in-game menus and interfaces. These freezes often result in lost progress, making the game difficult to play.
- The game requires optimization for the Steam Deck platform. Players are looking for a smoother and more stable experience when playing on this device.
Recommendations:
- Many players highly recommend the game, finding it a worthwhile and enjoyable experience. They express strong satisfaction with the game's release and overall quality.
- Players who enjoy mining, collecting rocks, or finding gems will find this game particularly appealing. It fulfills the fantasy of digging for treasures.
- The game is well-suited for fans of cozy simulation games, especially those involving shop management and resource gathering, similar to titles like Potion Craft.
- One player indicated that the game did not align with their personal preferences. This suggests that while generally well-received, it may not appeal to everyone.
Miscellaneous:
- Players are highly engaged with the game, with many expressing intentions to complete it fully and spend significant time playing. The game's length for completion is noted to be around 5-6 hours, which is seen as a positive for its price point.
- A bug or oversight has been identified where progress for gem-selling achievements is not being tracked correctly. This prevents players from earning achievements as intended.
- A specific request for a more challenging game mode has been made, suggesting players desire increased difficulty options beyond the current offerings. This indicates a segment of the player base is looking for a deeper, more punishing experience.
- A quality-of-life improvement was suggested regarding the cleaning mechanic. Players would benefit from options to rebind the cleaning key or change its activation method for better usability.
