I think that people are catastrophizing a little hard.
I quite liked the game previously, and I'm not stoked for the changes. It sucks to lose moments like walking into that wasteland after the first little town with the huge background and the wind. That shit slapped. That's just a great moment, putting the porn aside.
I'm not against a format that involves more actual storytelling. It was a little light previously. I enjoyed aspects of the sex combat system. I didn't enjoy it being a grind. I do like the new combat system in general, though I dislike how easy it is to get one shot from turn one if you're just unlucky. I'm not sure if a VN is the best option really. But I like the devs art, and enjoy the setting. It's really too early to tell if this has reduced it to being a worthless experience or not. The new art is good as always, and as long as the old art gets reintroduced, I have no problems on THAT front, at least.
But I do miss the player freedom. I enjoy a less linear system, and was mostly looking forward to that being fleshed out and story being added to that. But I'm not about to lose my shit over it. Maybe later. For now I'll wait and see. I'd be disappointed if I was giving money. But I'm not, and stuff like this tends to be why. Y'know on top of poverty. There are a few projects out there I'd be willing to give money to if I have cash to throw at niche porn games, but switching things up to this degree is the sort of thing that makes someone hesitant. Well. Regardless. I understand being disappointed, I'm a bit disappointed to. But like c'mon. No need to go nuts. I'm willing to give the dev time to prove himself.