Swords and Potions
Swords and Potions Swords and Potions Swords and Potions, at
first sounds like it is going to be some sort of dragon-slaying adventure, but
instead it is a game based in a shop where you are a medieval merchant attempting
to make a profitable living.
You get the immediate choice of which type of
craftsperson you hire for the back of your shop. This may not be the best thing
to happen in the game, as at first you are unsure of what exactly each
craftsperson will offer you. However, as the game progresses you get the
opportunity to hire the others that you initially rejected.
Keeping on top of your craftspeople can seem a
little too much at times, particularly as your constantly having to force them
to make items or getting them to research better items. Forgetting to manage
them can cost you as you attempt to catch up with your customers demands.
Your goal throughout is to keep your stock levels
high by making sure your craftspeople are making items that you can sell,
whilst making sure that your customers pay full value for the items youre
offering them.
The pace is relentless, even at the beginning, and
there will be a constant stream of customers coming in. The learning curve,
despite the game walking you through it as you go, can be quite steep and you
may unfortunately find yourself out of the basic items you need, such as wood,
with little idea of how to replenish them.
The customers, as well as attempting to buy things
cheaply will often offer you their own wares for you to re-sell, which is a
nice addition as your stocks can always seem a little too low without them.
Fortunately you can always see how little stock you have with the help of the
sidebar on the right-hand side of the screen.
The game is simple, and doesnt offer much in
terms of design. What it does offer though, is a well-paced and consistent
challenge that even the most hardcore of gamers will find endearing.
