This review was published when the game was in v0.4.2 (there's a beta on the Discord server, but I'm only reviewing what's easily accesible by the public).
Theme: The Modding Tree community. Utilized extremely well, with each layer referencing various stuff related to the developers, even when some of it is obscure.
Gameplay and core mechanics: Each layer has a set of upgrades and its own fleshed-out minigame or a few. The first is like a remake of Prestige Tree, the second is like Antimatter Dimensions, etc. The last part of Layer 5 includes a full text adventure with some numerical tower puzzles (YMMV whether those games are enjoyable, but I found it rather fun and the game's generally clear regarding the commands you need to use). Most of the time, you have to buy upgrades in both the layer and its minigame.
Balancing and difficulty: Average speed and difficulty. A few bits may feel slow or require grinding in the first layer, but the game generally felt much smoother afterwards. Some bits may require using a specific setup for the best results, but the game's lenient enough that you should usually be able to progress even if the options you've chosen aren't optimal. Layer 5's second section has some manageable RNG with its items.
Content on offer: Long, you can reach the endgame in about half a week of playing. Five large layers, with the fifth taking longer than everything that came before combined. Note that obsolete sections frequently become inaccessible, but you can grab a save from the save bank at the forum and return to a previous part if you really want to see it again.
Polish and miscellaneous additions: Some items have small icons that look really charming and there's even some ASCII art. The game had a NaN error twice in a late-game portion and I had to refresh the page each time. Resetting the game when there's non-ASCII text present may result in it getting garbled up, but that's unlikely to be fixed due to how saving works and a small issue overall.
This is the culmination of the 2020—2021 era of TMT gaming. Large layers, addicting mechanics, and overall quality make this an experience TMT fans wouldn't want to miss. I'm just hoping to see even more modders and other users represented in the game.
VideoGame A true love letter to The Modding Tree and its community (v0.4.2)
This review was published when the game was in v0.4.2 (there's a beta on the Discord server, but I'm only reviewing what's easily accesible by the public).
This is the culmination of the 2020—2021 era of TMT gaming. Large layers, addicting mechanics, and overall quality make this an experience TMT fans wouldn't want to miss. I'm just hoping to see even more modders and other users represented in the game.
Overall rank: A (Awesome)