Introduction

Potion Permit is a quaint little game that blends being a healer with a sprinkle of social simulation. It's like if your friendly neighborhood pharmacist decided to mix medicine with a bit of fantastical alchemy while also trying to be the next best thing to a therapist for the townsfolk. Buckle up, because we're about to dive into a world that makes you question your life choices as you try to cure everyone of their ailments with the power of herbs, a little bit of friendship, and a lot of potion-making shenanigans.

Gameplay

The gameplay in Potion Permit is primarily action role-playing where you'll spend your days wandering around Moonbury, gathering herbs, and slinging potions at unsuspecting NPCs. Because nothing says 'I care' like force-feeding a potion to the local mayor's daughter. The game employs various minigames for crafting potions, like a weird fusion of cooking simulator and Operation where you try not to mess up too badly as you proceed to save a townsfolk's life with the finest ingredients you may or may not have just plucked from your neighbor's garden. Interacting with the NPCs feels like one big, chaotic therapy session where you become the town's honorary healer-good luck getting through their heartfelt problems without getting sidetracked by an unexpected quest to catch a rare butterfly. The social relationships you build with characters involve relentless chatter; they pour their hearts out to you like you're the star of a reality show, only with more magic and less drama. Who knew healing could be so emotionally taxing? As you establish friendships, you unlock further options for potion recipes, something akin to leveling up but without the explosive action sequences you might be used to in other RPGs. The game is soothingly slow-paced, and it oddly makes you feel as though you're in a therapy appointment for your stress levels, which, by the way, might spike when you realize you forgot where you hid that last herb.

Graphics

Visually, Potion Permit is cute-but not in the 'cutie patootie' way that instantly melt your heart like a poor ice cream cone left out in the sun. It's more like an indie film aesthetic. Everything is hand-drawn style, which gives it a homey, cozy feel, which will charm your socks off while you contemplate your life choices as a potion brewer. The colors pop just enough to distract you from the textural disappointments on the PS4, which seems to be having a tough time handling some of the environments without dropping frames like a clumsy waiter at a busy restaurant. Character designs look quirky and endearing at best, while some animations might leave you feeling slightly perplexed. The graphics won't be winning any awards in 2023, but they have a certain charm that feels reminiscent of a Saturday morning cartoon-if that cartoon were about potion-making and mid-life crises.

Conclusion

Potion Permit is like a warm cup of chamomile tea on a rainy day: comforting yet somewhat uneventful. It has its fair share of charm and engaging elements with potion crafting and social relationships, yet it ends up feeling like a delightful daydream rather than an intensive gaming experience. The bugs in the game can be annoying enough to make you question whether your potion ingredients accidentally contained some magic bugs that really shouldn't be in there. Despite its shortcomings, if you're looking for something more laid-back after slicing up enemies in your usual action games, Potion Permit offers a solid escape into a world where you can collect ingredients, brew potions, and try to figure out who makes the best latte in Moonbury. At the end of the day, it's a heartfelt addition to the game library, and if you're willing to overlook a few (dozen) bugs, it might just be worth the time and your precious potion ingredients.

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