I really tried (to keep) liking this game, but it just got worse the more I played it. Both the gameplay and the jokes and jargon get old pretty fast, and it's almost embarrassing how they're not even trying to hide how fetch-questy and bloated it is. Just like with certain massive movie studios making meta jokes through their super heroes about how corrupt the studio is - self awareness does nothing if the subject or reason for those jokes doesn't improve. It doesn't make the problem, that people clearly hate, suddenly okay and forgivable because you joke about how hate-inducing it is.

I honestly think the above would however be bearable if the gameplay itself were fun and/or smooth. But in addition, that is also extremely janky, everything from the shape shifting taking minimum 2 steps (each with a delay due to non skipable animation), slow basic movement, constantly empty stamina meter so running is barely an option, quests not tracking properly unless they're active (so it is way too finicky doing time/opportunity sensitive quests), and terrible mount steering.

Last, the modern classic of treating the audience like idi*ts. By going with such a sloppy story and unlikely events, consequences, reactions and behavior, not thinking anyone will notice or care. Someone is killed, and both the village and your character just carry on like nothing, after half a day of initial shock and reactions. The village and eventually you having supernatural powers, waved off. You and several NPCs treating each other like trash with relentless insults, that's just something funny with no consequences next time you meet. I personally also get hung up on random animal species being unrealistically aggressive, like badgers or all wild birds attacking humans even if they spot them from afar. Also feels like the creators either think its audience has lived under a rock still believing those "all badgers will attack you at all times and bite you until they hear a bone cracking" children stories, or just lived in a city all their life and never saw a live animal and think all are ferocious carnivores.

It's almost a shame the environments, some story elements, the animals and a few other elements is actually cozy and fun, because looking back at the game it makes you feel like it was fun at times,. Which it is, but not enough to be worth spending more than 10 minutes at a time in, before you realise you've wasted that time at a game not worth finishing.