I have been playing this game for the last two weeks or so and I have to say, while it is fun, I don't really see much difference than what it was 3 years ago. The faces and clothing options seem to be the same and the story is there, but it's not like there is a lot of it. The game is about the mechanics and the grind. Okay. The mechanics work, the grind is there, but I don't really see the longterm vision.
The entire business aspect is rather underwhelming. There is no point to it. There is no curve as well. The first weeks are about developing one serum and not going bankrupt and then all of sudden comes a point where you rake in money. At that point everything is about developing serums for the sheer fun of it and the business only acts as a place to start the conversations. The same interactions every day. With different girls. The mechanics are there and they work, but they are a bit flawed. You end up save scumming or using the going-back function a lot. Then again, if everybody does that, can you say that the mechanics work?
The mall and other shops are completely pointless. Only the clothing shop is part of a mini-scene.
Again, I like the game. It is fun. However, the fun is the grind. Apart from that there isn't really anything else. One thing is for certain, it is a very diffferent game than Lab Rats 1.