I don't usually like Early Access games, but this one really hooked me with its harsh yet calm atmosphere.
1. Story Concept and Atmosphere:
Well, let's start with the fact that the concept itself is quite cliché: evil bourgeois forcing ordinary people (mice, in this case) to work and hand over resources. However, it's presented in a very unusual way, playing on empathy and nostalgia from the days when all cartoons were about evil cats and kind mice. The idea itself is incredibly good; sometimes it feels like I'm building all of this just to help the mice, rather than out of pure interest. I'm really looking forward to the climax and the finale, because right now there are rebellious thoughts and other hints, but full independence isn't in the game yet, and I'd really love to see it.
The atmosphere in the game is incredible. From the music to the graphics, everything looks and sounds perfect. I can't even describe it, you just need to jump in, look, and listen. I think the work on graphics and audio design is complete. (The only thing is that the sounds of mice complaining at 3x speed sound like demons from hell... but I guess that's normal).
2. Gameplay and Economy:
At first, the game captivates you with the unknown; you don't know what's coming next, and that keeps it interesting. Placing buildings, planning, helping the mice, and giving orders is definitely engaging. The early game will easily hook a regular player.
The economy in the game is also very well done. Personally, I never faced a situation where I catastrophically couldn't pay taxes, or conversely, had way too many resources. It's clear that the developers worked hard to ensure the player doesn't forget about taxes but also doesn't suffer from endless extortion.
3. Mid-game:
This is where it gets a bit more boring. Not because the game is ending, but more because now that you have the resources to pay taxes and maintain the mice, your next task is to automate production.
But a new nuance pops up here — there is a HUGE gap of time between mid-game and late-game, which feels endless because it's so repetitive. During this period, the game desperately needs some events, crises, or intermediate goals to make it a bit more fun.
4. Late-game:
I haven't reached this stage myself, but I've watched playthroughs, and even based on those, I can say it looks very interesting.
Verdict: The only thing I can say is that it needs more events, crises, and intermediate goals so that a person can survive and not die of boredom before reaching full city automation (which is very interesting).
I definitely recommend the game, but if you want a finished, perfect product, you need to wait. Judging by the developers' past game, they finish what they start and do it exceptionally well. I will definitely be waiting for version 1.0 to play through the game completely.
