A good concept poorly implemented

Game: Toadwater (TWC) Free Online Simulation

When I first found this game, myself and my wife (and a friend or two I told about it) played it quite heavily for a few weeks, despite the poor graphics and at times tedious game play, it had enough to keep us interested. That was a while ago now, and I sometimes pop back to see what's changed; sadly I feel that what has changed has greatly damaged the game. It claims to be free, but in reality this is only true at the most basic level of the game. To really play it, you must pay/donate/give money for the rights to access the skills and abilities really necessary to have any progression. As a game concept Toad Water is wonderful, and I wouldn't tell people not to try it out, for a few weeks it would be entertaining I imagine. But the implementation of this concept really breaks down after the 'newbie' stage, and the fees added on top of that really chokes the point out of playing it at all... Score 2/10 -- it's not the worst game in the world, but what it is compared to what it could have been just leaves a bad taste in the mouth.