izigame.me

I really loved the original game and was excited for the new one, but I ended up feeling disappointed. I know the game is still in early access, but I have a few concerns that I’d like to address.
Firstly, the graphics. While they’re adorable, they can be overwhelming. Everything is pastel, and I genuinely struggle to distinguish between things because everything looks so similar. The visuals are competing for attention, which makes it hard to focus. In the original game, the different regions were color-coded, which made it easier to tell them apart, and the simple graphics helped with clarity. The new game lacks that clarity. in the new game, it feels like the developers are relying too much on the previous design, with the new locations feeling too similar to the old ones, just with different names and maps. I’d really like more variety and new concepts for the locations, especially since these locations hold the same colors, themes, slimes and food. which doesn't really make me feel like the new experience it should be. For a new game and new island, I was expecting more fresh content.
Secondly, I have issues with the new mechanics and exploration. The old map was clear and easy to navigate, but the new one is just too large. There are way too many passages and turns, and I find myself getting lost constantly. The mini-map doesn’t help much because it’s just as confusing. The game now places so much emphasis on exploration, but the process isn’t even fun. The environments all look similar, and the map is difficult to navigate.
Another point, this might be because I haven’t progressed too far into the game, but it’s frustrating that there aren’t portals to quickly get back home. The travel times are long, and with my limited inventory, I’m constantly having to make trips back, which takes up most of my playtime. I don’t understand why a game about growing a slime ranch is now focused so much on exploration, especially when some of the tools that helped with exploration, like the jetpack, are harder to obtain. Which is somewhat a good idea, but not with how the map is and with how you're supossed to unlock it. As it stands, the process of unlocking basic features, like the water tank, is way too difficult and/or time-consuming. I think that certain thing should be able to unlock by just money, or, if we’re sticking with the laboratory concept, than I think they should use only plorts(no money). My biggest problem is that for example unlocking the jetpack requires materials that I find way too high and I'm not able to get them without a jetpack which I don't have. Also the geyser system. It’s very hard for me to use, and it’s required for travel, but that might be just a me issue.
In conclusion, I have significant issues with the flow of the game, the systems for unlocking features, the lack of new content, the map’s design, and the graphics.