This review was published when the game was in v1.2 (the final update because it was rewritten and runs on obsolete software).
Theme: As the first game of this sort, it kinda lacks a theme. Most layers are just new resources, some highly abstract, and there are no upgrade names as they weren't a thing yet.
Gameplay and core mechanics: The game starts with you having to reset points to get prestige points and spend them on upgrades. Once you have 200 points, you can reset points and prestige points for either boosters that provide a point multiplier or generators that produce generator power that eventually multiplies it, letting you choose between active and idle, eventually having both. Then you choose between three layers (Time, Enhance, and Space), eventually having all three. Then new layers usually show up every once in a while, but you sometimes return to the earlier ones due to new upgrades or other stuff getting unlocked. In general, despite lacking a particular mechanic of its own, it feels often like active/idle contrasts dominate gameplay.
Balancing and difficulty: Average speed and difficulty at first, then a bit slow and challenging at row 6 and especially 7, though it slightly depends on how the player goes about it. The game manages to have a decent amount of freedom in terms of the order of layers you want to go after and challenge difficulty (you can often either grind or wait in a challenge), sometimes it can affect gameplay quite a bit (expect things to be tougher if you go after Space first, for instance). Some parts can be next to impossible if you don't have the correct setup (anything to do with buildings may require a lot of tinkering to progress). Grinding for late Booster/Generator upgrades or those near the end feels like a timewall without much in the way of improving production. Two challenges may be downright trivial based on your computer's speed, while another is unbeatable with the game's balancing (hint: it's 2-5 near the end).
Content on offer: Average length, you can finish the game in about half a day. 22 layers that range from small to slightly large.
Polish and miscellaneous additions: No interesting additions, but since this was the first game of this sort, I wouldn't expect any. Things like the time played counter, the HQ Tree option, and the loading screen that we take for granted as they come packed with TMT by default had to be added here through updates. You can toggle the old graphical design in the options, but the challenge colors are kind of an eyesore.
I think the game still holds up, though replaying it kinda made me see where Jacorbian and Aarexian balancing from The Incremental God Tree came from... The layers definitely have variety and this is a pretty good game for beginners (not too challenging, introduces the player to the concepts) with a very solid base, but it may feel antiquated or simplistic.
Gotta start somewhere (v1.2 Classic)
This review was published when the game was in v1.2 (the final update because it was rewritten and runs on obsolete software).
I think the game still holds up, though replaying it kinda made me see where Jacorbian and Aarexian balancing from The Incremental God Tree came from... The layers definitely have variety and this is a pretty good game for beginners (not too challenging, introduces the player to the concepts) with a very solid base, but it may feel antiquated or simplistic.
Overall rank: B (Good)