There is a lot of fun to be had in early access games. One of the games that has grabbed a lot of attention right now is Potion Paws from Bitten Toast Games. If you like their previous game Garden Paws, then you can expect a lot of the same style of grinding. I’m only bummed that it wasn’t released for Halloween.
This time around, you have moved into a spooky old house in a forest and someone left notes all over the place to remind them (or you possibly) what to expect. A cauldron adorns your room with a table and bed. From there, grinding and exploring is the main point. Just like it’s other game, you have to collect materials, run back, then make potions. In this world, potions are your tools instead of, well, real tools.
Environmentally, the game is foggy and currently in a twilight state. The characters are still cute, but the grass is dreary, the caves and other areas are filled with an ominous smoke and you’ll have to pay the townspeople to remove the blockades. Once you prove your potion making skills, then new areas will open to lead you to new potions and items.
As with any new game, there will be bugs. Bitten Toast Games currently has Potion Paws set as $9.99USD which a lot of people have complained about. I wanted to support the team, so I just went ahead and bought it knowing that the game isn’t completely ready yet. Some items lag right now while other items just freak out when touched, but this doesn’t stop anyone from playing the game. The developers have been very upfront that they want community feedback and direct you immediately to a report form, so I took advantage of it. I’m still figuring out the game and all of the little pieces to it, but I do like how this game parallels Garden Paws.
Other people however have been irritated with the use of some of the same sounds in the game, but in a way, this is a spooky version of what they’ve already created. The overall music was a nice and spooky change for me, I’m just waiting on the other worlds to be opened or added. I haven’t opened the first gate yet, but I do know that I’m going to need to grind hard and make that money. Money has been a notoriously difficult thing to achieve in the games, so it is no surprise that money is probably the number one complaint everyone has. As you progress, the next gates to be opened become more expensive to unlock. Comparing this to Garden Paws, that’s just how it works. If you need a new shop, then you have to work up to that 5000 or 10,000. Whether the developers will change this is up in the air for now, but it hasn’t been so annoying that I’ve stopped.
Overall, the game is great, it’s just in early access. This means people will have to enjoy it for what it is right now and help the team by submitting helpful feedback. Once the game is finalized, it should be just as good as Garden Paws, only with a whole different spooky vibe. My best advice is to give the game a shot but be prepared to wander along as the developers work their magic.
7.5/10
Available on PC