So decided to leave a review to hopefully offer some feedback for this game. Mainly because the game does seem like it should have some potential, but right now falls flat.
First off, there are things that are not very well explained. Like why I have a 5 minute timer constantly going. I assume that is the sector clear timer. And also I assume that if I do not clear the sector within that time limit, I reset? But honestly I've never just sat and watched that because as is in the name of the game, this is an idle game. This timer is a variation, again I assume, on the "boss timers" of other idle games to stop just progressing infinitely even when you haven't interacted with the game in hours or days.
Second, Calibration (resetting for permanent bonus currency) has to many "efficiency" requirements. One of which is seriously just time. Others of which just straight up cap out at literally a x1 multiplier. Meaning they are penalties at first. Going above and beyond the level requirements is useless, but resetting to soon time wise also basically means you get very very little currency. This means that the best way to play the game is run it, and don't do anything to it for hours on end before resetting so you have a good time bonus. The problem here being the only bonus multiplier that is beneficial to giving you more currency early on is time. Which makes it a reward that is only valuable when you are not wanting to play the game.
Third, the CC (Calibration Chip) upgrades are way to expensive for what they give early on. To get a second ship out, you need 100 CC. To get that takes at the least 2-3 hours depending on how much you buy the wrong things early on. And to get better ships and such takes waaay more. Also, if you buy a ship in the CC shop, that doesn't mean you own the ship. Oh no, that just means you can buy it with Ingots later. Is this explained? Nope. Should this be how it works? Eeh... What this means is you can buy multiple of the ship later on. But it also means you can accidentally have a ship that is unusable for a very long time because you don't have the ingots to buy it yet but you just upgraded it a ton. My fix here? A "first ship free" with the purchase of the first level of the CC shop ship. But also, just make the CC shop upgrades cheaper. Some of these upgrades are absolutely horrible compared to their price. Especially when you remember that time is the main factor in getting bonus CC. So the main cost of this all is time.
Forth, I've not made it to artifacts yet. But they seem to be a second level of resetting. As in, it resets ALL your progress even CC shop progress. But looking over the bonuses... They are HORRIBLE for what I'm assuming the cost is. It requires player level 1000 to collect this stuff. So holy crap is that a slog to get to at the current rate I'm going. And at player level 91, I am still collecting 0 of the Fragments you need to upgrade these things. Low-balling, assuming you get 1 per 100 levels. Means you get 10 of them. All this to reset what would be potentially MONTHS worth of progress. And this thing has tiers too. So I assume there are hidden upgrades I cannot see.
Fifth, Ingot upgrades are annoying and in some cases horrible. Annoying because getting ingots takes to long. In order to get ingots, you need to beat a wave and get scrap. No idea how you get ore. Assuming same way but higher stages. Scrap gets refined into ingots then at a certain rate based off your foundry. But... You can ignore the foundry upgrades if you want. Since you are going to be spending a ton of time waiting anyway. The enemies scale VERY fast to where you need the stuff from the Ingot upgrades pretty early maxed out. Then you will eventually stagnate hard. Once you have the first three (Damage, XP gain, and Credit Reward) maxed, all the rest are not worth it.
Reasoning why each other scrap upgrade isn't really worth it:
Scrap Refining Rate-see above, you got to wait a long time anyway. So this doesn't speed up you doing anything.
Chance for 2x kill credits-It can take like 20-30 seconds or more per enemy kill assuming you just barely were able to go up a wave. So the proc rate here is just way to low considering each level is only .1% with a max of 30% assuming you max out the upgrade. To much of an investment to get the chances good enough to have an impact.
Ore Refining Rate-See Scrap Refining Rate.
Critical Hit Chance-This spikes in price FAST! I tried to get this one because extra damage usually good. Price gets bonkers way to fast to where the most I got was like 1.6% chance to crit before it became to expensive. Caps at 20% as well with linear progression.
Critical Hit Multiplier-Well... With crit chances being as they are... Yeah you can already tell why this one is bad. Linear progression as well. Caps out at 4x damage which is nice in theory... But at a 20% chance that is barely doubling your damage output overall.
A lot of these "complaints" are from an early player experience. But this is the important time. This is the hook. This is when you want to suck me in and make me feel like putting the hours into this.
Ways I would fix the issues:
First, make resetting have more multipliers that actually do bonuses. I see one here called "highest level bonus" that is sitting at x1. Meaning I think that bonus only applies if I am reaching higher stages or player levels then I have before. Meaning it does nothing as you get more efficient. Replace this with a bonus like, Sector Bonus. Am I at sector 10? Great! I get 10% more bonus CC! The base is factored off of player level already. But as far as I can tell, nothing cares about sector. So give me a bonus for making it to further sectors. Maybe start the bonus at sector 10 where it becomes x1.1 or something. But then every sector past that gives an extra .01 or something.
Second, reward scrap on clearing waves. Doesn't need to be a lot, but something so progress in the Yard can be made even when you are stuck unable clear a sector.
Third, make it more clear what things do and how they work. "Artifact Reset Boost" and "Lap Upgrade CC Boost" both have zero explanation until you either go digging or reach that point and find out. Which yes, I know what the Lab Upgrade CC Boost is and how to get it, but I had to dig around on my own. Just add in an explanation popup when we mouse over the different things in the place where the multipliers are all listed. Just so we understand how to get those and can plan ahead.
Forth, put the purchase of map slots on the actual map page. For the love of everything fuzzy please put it there. There is so much screen space where you could put a button for when you are specifically on that tab that would toggle on and off the buying of map spaces UI. Currently, it is just a little to hidden. It took me way longer to find where to buy a map slot then I'd like to admit because of how hidden and small it is.
Kind of all I got for now. Can't think of anything else off the top of my head. Overall, not a bad game. I don't mind it being a bit complex and layered. This is a space themed one after all. But complexity shouldn't come at the expense of fun. And the best thing to happen in these games is seeing the numbers go up. It is just very hard to watch that happen with this one. Do keep me posted though if you consider any of my feedback. Or if you have questions about it for me to elaborate on. My brain doesn't always do well with putting things into text.
