I'm here from YouTube.
The concept of the game is fine, don't doubt it. The execution is the problem. Other comments have identified the main issues.
You can mix different gameplay, but you are making it hard for yourself as a designer. The mechanics need to not compete with each other. For instance resource gathering while in fast-paced combat is okay, but the resource gathering can't be the same as in a slow-paced game, it needs to also be geared toward the fast pace. Currently it feels like it gets in the way of the combat because you have to think about it too much, and the resources also literally get in your way which makes movement less fun.
Likewise being able to shoot ordinary enemies in tower mode subtracts from the importance of towers (and thus the entire mode). It's probably better to just not let the player move or shoot at all and so be able to watch the towers do their thing and upgrade them on the fly.
It's a classic example of the problems with vibe coding games. Too many mechanics thrown together, in a way that doesn't seem integrated, and thrown at the player all at once. You need to simplify so everything is legible and deliberate.
Visual clutter is bad. It's better if the only things flying toward the player are enemy projectiles, not positive things - or have the good things look very visually distinct (for instance be in the background, low opacity, moving slower).
Also, I hate screen shake and after disabling it in settings, firing my gun still made the screen shake.
Thanks for trying it - I am slowly pulling things out - but I think shooting while in tower mode can work - its got a lot of issues - yes but im not yet willing to concede it - going to continue to explore that front.
Visual clutter is a big issue for sure - im slowly lowering the total number monsters, and resource nodes on the screen, and pulling back the visuals on auto attacks to try to mitigate it some - its still too busy but is slowly getting more clear. The point on moving objects should only really be a threat is good I had not really thought about that yet.
Going to disable screenshake by default - a lot of people seem to not like it
Thanks again appreciate you giving it a spin and writing up your thoughts.