Definitely a whole lot of interesting ideas here. Valheim like is correct. Progression is slow. The environment is more deadly. I wouldn't recommend it right now as it just has way too much EA jank and lack of QoL. Missing tool tips/lack of information, poor balance, awful combat.

Some examples - Reading a book. If you move your progress is reset. Typically when you read half a book and put it down you start back where you left off! This goes for all crafting, and searching enemies, and skinning animals. The UI also covers a lot of the screen. In a game where situational awareness is supposed to be a focus, this is a pretty poor choice. There's even a mechanic where looking at the sky is supposed to help you predict the weather. But a storm can come on in seconds. I've had seemingly clear skies turn to deadly blizzards before I finished the 14 harvesting animation for some offal. (I mean you get faster with experience, but yes 14 seconds is no joke).

Combat is brain dead. Walk into enemey to trigger their attack animation, walk out of range, swing. Repeat. Some people don't mind it. I die a little bit inside. And predictably, trying to fight on a slope is a hot mess. Hit boxes are off a touch. It's just yuck.

But I have noticed an interesting attention to detail by the dev(s?). Small things like turning your character towards the screen - your character will face the camera and follow it. There was another thing that I'm failing to recall at the moment but it was those things, the small attention to detail that made me keep the game instead of refunding. Also my daughter getting into the cats water bowl pushing me over 2 hours while I cleaned up her mess. But even though I wouldn't suggest it at the moment, I intent to keep playing and actually have some hope for this one.

There is just so much to say. So far this is literally the most complete early access game I have played. I am in 35 hours and I can see this going well beyond 100hours. What kind of game player am I and should you listen to me? I'll leave that up to you. My portfolio of games includes Asheron's Call, WOW, Valheim, Empyrion Galactic, The Front, Sunkenland, Enshrouded and a ton of irrelevant games going back to Atari lol.

The progression is slow and challenging. If you play games like this you will appreciate it. Early on you will have some pains that you will get through. Just keep pushing.

The best tips I can give you is from Day 1 within a minute of your first spawn you should be running around grabbing foilage, sticks, some stones, and mushrooms and don't stop. Give yourself daylight time to go back to your starter home to build a fire. Don't worry about fancy builds just shelter and survival. You will be moving from place to place so don't get attached to a spot.

This is a cross between Valheim & Final Fantasy. Engagements require some thought and strategy and you have to take into consideration weather and your food supply. The music is relaxing, the sounds are on point, I haven't ran into a single item I would consider a bug that interrupts gameplay. So far I am more into this then I was Valheim the first time I played it.

35hrs and I am barely into the second zone. I am very much looking forward to see what else is out there in this masterpiece.

Worth a wishlist, I'll keep an eye on it for sure and see how it looks in a year. Right now the combat is so janky and unfun that I just cannot recommend it. Smack once, run, smack again. The lock-on/dodge system kind of works but at least in the early game I was better off just running in circles around enemies. Easy to get stunlocked. "Permanent" death penalties might be fine if the combat felt better (I assume they can be resolved later after doing story stuff). I got as far as making an iron sword, but I think I'm done for now. Interesting game, I'll be interested in seeing what the dev(s) do with it over time.