Don't believe the negative reviews, this game has a lot of content.
The potion side of things is revolutionary, you don't have set recipes, you throw some things in a pot and see what comes out, as you do this more you get a feeling of what these items will create (the items themselves have a description of what to expect from individual components but mixing them can produce interesting results) I don't usually use many potions in games other then health but it's irresistable to create a potion which for 5 minutes will take any damage sustained off your mana bar instead of your health, helpful for me because I don't use magic, I like blood dripping off my sword, or will allow you to walk on water to get to that distant island that your character is technically not allowed on just yet, just to get some "above your paygrade" goodies.
The initial combat system is awkward and silly but this dramatically improves as you level and gain better moves and equiptment.
The graphics seem a little old school at first and I didn't like it at all but now it's grown on me, and some of the environments are just beautiful.
It is not technically the most perfect game, there are some frame rate issues as well as clipping issues but there are practically no load times and those there are, are short.
Overall the game is absolutely addictive and the customisable features alone are worth playing, I very much enjoy tweeking stats so this game allows that on many levels. too much emphasis is placed on perfection these days, let the "critics" pick it to pieces because thats what they do isn't it, criticise, all I know is that its a fun game in it's own right, we don't need to compare it with oblivion or dragon age or fallout, this game holds it's own, and if you do like the aforementioned games, you will definetly find much enjoyment in this one, after the first hour that is.
Play it.