Just gotta note one frustration before I give you some solid praise.
So, the research wheel? I didn't unlock sticks till the very end. Indeed, I wasn't even sure you COULD unlock sticks from it because I'd tried enough times and couldn't get it, so I gave up on it for a while. Got a semi-decent mine expansion before I was truly stuck because there were no more possible upgrades for me. (Sticks are the prerequisite for most recipes.) Between that and the rather slow start, I very nearly gave up on this game. Had this not been recommended by someone and had just gorgeous art, I definitely would've.
However.
Once I got sticks, the game started flowing smoother. Wish there had been something to automatically spin the wheels. That got tiresome pretty quick.
Those were my biggest gripes though. Theme? Phenomenal. Story? A+. Art style? Just perfect. Sound and vibes and aesthetics? Top notch. Seriously! I loved this! It needs some balancing work, especially the beginning, but this is such an awesome game. I played it for like an hour, maybe more. Which, granted, a lot of that was frustration over sticks and pacing, but I nonetheless stayed, so hey, that definitely counts.
Loved the game. :)