Pretty much what fox said. You shouldn't view it as an "upgrade" with refined everything like what you'd see in many game series, as that's not what it is. Instead, it's a new take, a different take, on the same core principles. Some game mechanics wouldn't mesh well, hence the need for a new game. Had Maverick simply wanted to upgrade his game, he'd have done so by simply updating it.
With that in mind, take a new and fresher look at it. If it still doesn't tickle your fancy, it's completely fine. Maybe hop back later once he's progressed further in development. Just don't discard it for not being what you thought it'd be.
No. I'm sorry, but no.
I don't see it as an upgrade. I don't see it as a different game. I see it as a game that has taken the worst direction on everything and is generally bad, especially when compared to the closest game wise which is the original strive.
First, the 4 actions day actions are
idiotic especially without a built in scheduling system because they're also make them that much more twitchy.
Second, the job system has basically been ruined. The old jobs had some ease and simplicity along with jobs that permitted you to just generate income, as well as jobs designed to raise your ease of use. For example, the cleaning system for your mansion made sense and having a cook buy your food and supplies was a major QOL feature. Not any more, everything is ENTIRE geared around resource gathering and the crafting system...
And oh god the crafting system. The first game had one. It was alchemy and it worked. The second one, apparently they local people have never heard of a store because you have to craft literally fucking everything.
And to get those crafting materials you have to go out in the world and sweet baby ninja pirate zombie jesus did that get fucked up too. The old system for its flaws was interesting. You actually traveled and explored and it felt like it too. In this? Soulless button pushing waiting for the next empty encounter.
Now, the combat is better I'll give it that and yes, the crafting aspects would have been tolerable if it wasn't so utterly dependent on them and some of them were not so mindnumbingly stupid
This same isn't "A different experience", it actually authentically and legitimately kinda sucks. I don't see development fixing what are baked in fundamental problems that have persisted since the first alpha - which I did play.