izigame.me

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3371423007
I've been playing Sapiens since Steam Next Fest demo back in June 2022. I did like the game, so I bought it instantly when it went into Early Access a month and a half after. Now I am coming back to the game for the fifth time. But the problem is, while it is still good for a few evenings, it didn't change much since the demo.
Of course, the dev have added some interesting features like composting and mulching, stone chiseling and bronze, windstorms, herbs and medicine. And now we got multiplayer, though I don't understand why this game needs one, especially in its current state. Maybe I'm just not that type of player but I truly believe this game would benefit more from the content update as a friend in multiplayer can't change the lack of it. Not to mention its flaws.
Windstorms. Happens once in a few years, a wind blows strong for a day, doesn't really do much but may damage your buildings a bit and scatter some of your stored items. Is it that bad that you have to be prepared for it? Not really. And what about people who can be hurt with a flying debris? You can heal them with medicine, right? RIGHT?!
Well, to be able to make medicine, you have to get the herbs. But that's the trick, most of them are nowhere near your spawn point. And as you can't move your camera far from your sapiens, you have to travel really far, constantly looking for the special plants. And while exploration sounds fun, it is really not because when you find a single wretched Echinacea five or even eight days from your home, you have to deliver it back before it rots, while the rest of the party are yet looking for Aloe and Marigold Flower. And as the home pretty far and conditions are raw, sapiens can become extremely unhappy and leave the tribe in the middle of the delivery, taking these stupid herbs with them. Now that's downright irritating.
To sum it up, it is very tedious and unrewarding to put that much effort and micromanagement into obtaining new resources. Sapiens almost never die from illness or injuries, so no matter how bad the situation is, you won't lose everyone. And when the stakes are that low, I don't think I care. Even if everything really goes south, you will end up with a lot of people tied to their beds — and while it is pretty irritating to have half a tribe sick with no means to cure them, it's no big deal. At the same time the fact that every medicine requires three different ingredients, and you can't investigate anything if something's missing, drives you up the wall. You have the whole plantation of garlic and turmeric root but ginger is just not there. You are welcome.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3371416779
Trade is also about micromanagement. You have to go pretty far to meet another tribe, and then you have to win them over by delivering resources. But it's much easier to make another camp near than to deliver items when you are 2-3 days away from the base. And when you proved your friendship, you can ask for resources which you won't probably need. Unrewarding. But the biggest joke is, you have to deliver these resources back to your base. Yes, by yourself. Making more camps and stops on the way.
But there's one useful thing with these villages, though. If you play in harsh conditions like I am, on their territory you can find some plants you don't have anywhere around like orange trees, birches or aspens. These seeds you also have to deliver to the base, of course. But at least there's a reward. I guess. It would definitely work if my sapiens had some bonuses based on the amount of different food, plants and inventions available. But there's nothing to sweet the extra effort you put to bring oranges from the far away land to your camp.
Another thing, the sapiens' AI. It was upgraded but they are still make stupid things like lying on the snow naked with developed hypothermia while woolskins are basically at their feet, but when you give the command to pick it up, they are 'too tired'. At the same time, they are not too tired to make a trip to the nearest camp (which is pretty far) naked. Also, they can fake their routes, pretending to carry the precious Marigold flower from point A to point B but they actually running with empty hands. At first I even thought the precious herbs simply disappeared. That was something. Also, sometimes AI brakes for some reason, and a sapien is standing in one place as he can't decide what to do next.
Building is not satisfying as well. There are some interesting ideas for materials but some important pieces are missing like an inverted triangle piece to make a nice roof without holes. And you can't actually make a complex roof that easy. In order to do that, you need to place fake additional walls inside the house because roof angle does not connect to the existing roof one level below. Thus, you're either stuck with small houses if you are looking for something but a thatch roof or additional and unsatisfying micromanagement, again. Placing beds in a straight line is also a very hard work. And don't even get me started about roads which your stupid folks will probably ignore anyway.
Moreover, I wanted to build a live fence to avoid mammoths, so I have planted a great deal of apple trees, placing 5-7 trees in every octagon. There's no way a mammoth could go through that. But mammoths ignore them. I was very disappointed. But didn't give up. And built a big wall two levels high to secure the perimeter. And you know what? Mammoths ignore it, too.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3371599169
And what happened to the game's colors? It used to be contrast and it was awesome, now they are dull and wash out, and the new texture looks like it's an oil painting. It's really hard to distinct rock from blue sandstone. I simply hate it.
But the biggest problem is, the game was in development for 7 years before it hit Early Access as the dev works alone, probably in his free time. It's been two years since the release, and so far it looks like Dave will probably need another 7 years to develop new mechanics, receipts and items which will allow you to stay in the game for more than a few evenings. That's a shame because that means the diamond will remain rough.
UPD: Right now I am trying entertain myself with Amazons tribe, no men allowed. So I simply ignore other tribes who wants to join if there're men there. But my girl who were born in the tribe just got pregnant somehow. Either she was seduced by an old man who was passing through with his old wife or this game desperately needs the concept of religion. Thank God, it's a girl.