[b]march 2022 edit:[/b] major content update with endless mode, 40 new quests, etc.
at first glance, [b]apotheker[/b] looks like time and shop management hell (for me anyway, not into that sort of thing), but it really isn't, despite some incorrectly applied store tags, which is par for the course these days. first and foremost [b]it's a game about mixing potions using some tools and all sorts of wacky ingredients[/b], with the ultimate goal of creating the elixir of life to save your dying grandma.
the game plays out over [b]up to 14 days[/b] and you can try and [b]create 3 potions per day[/b], one for each time of day. start in the morning, make a potion, now it's afternoon, make a potion, now it's evening, make a potion, next day. [b]there is no actual timer, but potions can have a deadline.[/b] only random people will bother you at first, then more prominent citizens will come a-knockin' with special requests, resulting in more money and rare ingredients and tools. some of the tools have to be bought and ingredients will of course keep coming and going, but once you get a piece of one, it will be available to buy from the shop anytime.
there is [b]no reason not to accept every request[/b], no repercussions if you don't fulfill them, besides small changes in the narrative, and saying yes to everything simply keeps your options open. it's very much a [b]have your cake and eat it too kinda game[/b], as it turned out, [b]not much choice and they don't really matter[/b]. I tried to go with one faction by doing something extreme and didn't do the opposing one's request and all they did was they cut ties with me and got the potion from elsewhere. couldn't change the outcome of the story, so I wouldn't say the game has different endings either, [b]all 5 npcs can be pleased in a single playthrough[/b], it only takes a bit of balancing, and just 3 makes the final potion trivial to make, even before day 14 if you want.
speaking of potions, here's how the meat of the game works. [b]each potion has 3 requirements[/b], shown on the left: health, energy and flavor, and they can be positive (curative, invigorating, tasty) or negative (toxic, sedative, disgusting) and you need to [b]find the ingredients and manipulate them in a way that all the bars end up within the highlighted areas[/b]. there are tons of choices, each with different stats, which can be modified with tools that enchance one characteristic, remove another, switch two of them, etc. only two modifications can be made on a piece of ingredient and none can be repeated, so you can't crush the same frog heart twice, for example, but why would you anyway?
the potion-in-progress can also be modified with a different set of tools next to the cauldron. they do more or less the same as the other actions, increase or decrease one or more of the characteristics of the whole thing. they can only be used once per potion and best not applied until some ingredients are in place, obviously.
besides these, [b]there is no hard limit on the number of ingredients or actions[/b], whatever works, as long as [b]stability doesn't reach zero[/b], resulting in a big bang. there's a gauge for that, showing in advance what the move you're about to pull will do. [b]no undo[/b], but I was fine with it, most potions can be done in a few steps and [b]solutions are relatively open-ended[/b], as I said, whatever works.
the game offers [b]3 difficulty settings[/b] to suit all playstyles, the first being mine, the last for masochists who thrive on failure and repetition. [u]experimental[/u] and [u]efficiency[/u] difficulties give back all the ingredients upon failure and time stands still until you succeed, and experimental is more generous with money and stability, so it's less about resource management and more about finding the right ingredients with more room for error before an explosion. [u]expert[/u], on the other hand, works with permanent choices and time moves on even after failing to create a potion. the 'clean your shop' button is available on all 3 difficulties, it advances time and gives you some money, should you find yourself in a tight spot.
[b]the presentation is really nice, but I wasn't a fan of some of the writing.[/b] I don't mind breaking the 4th wall or anachronisms in general, but here it somehow felt really out of place, medieval-like setting with a bit of steampunk sprinkled on top, with 'pump me up, bruh' and such in potion requests. there's [b]not much to the narrative[/b] either, some power struggle, people fighting over the control of the city, a farmer lady with a dead husband, plus crazy old [b]maurice, the only character that stands out somewhat[/b].
3 save slots allow that many games to be played at the same time, [b]autosaves happen after every potion/time of day[/b], and the game also saves when you quit, but not the current potion's progress if you were working on one, so there's no real difference, nor need for mid-potion saving. separate volume settings, resolutions, windowed mode, also while playing, optional tutorial, [b]text can be made to appear with a click and there's no gibberish during dialog[/b], both are really appreciated.
on the flipside, [b]the ui could use a bit of tweaking[/b]. some text boxes should be a little bigger to remove unnecessary scrollbars, the background for selected items isn't great either, makes the text hard to read, and I would've liked fewer loading screens. there are also some grammar mistakes here and there, and selecting and deselecting tools is a bit finicky sometimes.
[b]it's a simple but complex game[/b] with all the conditions to meet and tons of ingredients and tools, lots of factors to consider without being overwhelming, and the 120+ potions somewhat reduce repetition in case you want to go for another playthrough. not much point if you manage everything in one go, though completing the game on expert might take a few tries. I didn't bother with that but enjoyed my experimental experience.
took my time and some potions proved to be trickier than expected, but [b]it can be completed in about 3 hours[/b]. since it's very nicely done, has all the necessary functionality without major issues and offers replayability, I don't think the asking price is too high either. also, a year and a half after release [b]endless mode[/b] got added, along with a bunch of new stuff, so you can continue playing after the credits for as long as you want. there's even a daily newspaper and ways to stock up on ingredients every day.
