This game definitely has it own charm and unique style, should be able to attract a number communities if done right.
Although so far, some negative reviews have been left by the players, mostly about bugs, motions or game performance. I believe they were just bit disappointed and genuinely wanted to see the game thrive and do better.

You just need to keep working on the game's flaws, dev. One update/patch at a time, you're getting there, and eventually the previous players will come around with a better view of the game.