Tree of Life
- August 17, 2017
- OddOneGames
- 18h median play time
"Tree of Life" is a sandbox game that allows you to build and manage your own village in a beautiful, procedurally generated world. You can create and customize your character, choose your role and allegiance, and explore diverse environments such as deserts and snowy fields. The game encourages creativity, freedom, and discovery, with the potential to build grand castles or a village for wanderers.
Reviews
- The game has a charming art style and beautiful landscapes.
- Crafting and building mechanics are enjoyable and allow for creativity.
- The community is generally friendly and helpful, making it easier to find support.
- The game is extremely grindy, requiring excessive resource gathering for minimal progress.
- PVP mechanics are unbalanced, allowing high-level players to easily raid and steal from newcomers.
- There is a lack of clear tutorials and guidance for new players, making it difficult to understand gameplay mechanics.
- grinding216 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting it as a significant part of the experience. While some find the resource gathering and crafting enjoyable and rewarding, others describe it as tedious and overly time-consuming, often feeling like a chore rather than fun gameplay. Players recommend teaming up with friends to mitigate the grind, as solo play can lead to burnout and frustration due to the extensive time required to progress.
“The grind - oh dear heavens the amount of grinding to accomplish the most simple of tasks.”
“I'm not saying that you shouldn't work for something, but when the grinding is mind numbing, it goes from being a game to a chore real quick.”
“If you enjoy spending dozens of hours of monotonous grinding and farming, only to have everything stolen, then this is the game for you.”
- gameplay175 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying its sandbox and crafting mechanics while others criticize its repetitive nature and flawed combat systems. Many users noted issues such as crashes, bugs, and a lack of support from developers, which detracted from their overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, some players appreciate the cooperative elements and potential for fun, especially when playing with friends, suggesting that the game could improve with future updates and refinements.
“The gameplay is at its core a really good idea, and for a while the game had a good following, and was a lot of fun to play.”
“Tree of Life is a very fun survival game with some good mechanics and a pretty deep crafting system.”
“The actual gameplay is pretty easy, a lot more easy to get into unlike similar games like Xsyon, which is a lot more hardcore in its gameplay.”
“I gave this a positive review, but after playing it more and getting past the initial areas, dealing with respawn mechanics, and the overall abandoned state of the game by the developers, I cannot in good faith recommend this game.”
“The gameplay is like old school RuneScape, slow and boring.”
“No game progression, all content that has been added in big updates has been removed due to incompetent conception of the game mechanics, therefore breaking the game, requiring rollbacks and wipes.”
- graphics175 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the charming, cartoonish art style that adds a whimsical feel to the gameplay. However, there are frequent complaints about poor optimization, low frame rates, and outdated visuals that detract from the overall experience. While some find the graphics appealing and fitting for the game's theme, others criticize them as simplistic or lacking detail, suggesting that improvements are needed for a more polished presentation.
“The graphics are beautiful, but remind me of something my kids would've played when they were younger.”
“Cartoonish yet charming visuals, with a whimsical feeling to everything.”
“I love the graphics and style of the game, but I'm not a big fan of jumping into a world that's already polluted with random abandoned structures.”
“The graphics are awful, as well as the gameplay.”
“The graphics are a bit dated but it feels right in this environment leading to a relaxed setting and pleasing to the eyes.”
“The graphics are not as beautiful, but that's a minor thing to everything else this game provides.”
- stability46 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many users reporting significant bugs, lag, and glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some players acknowledge that minor issues are expected in early access titles, the frequency and severity of these problems have led to frustration and a decline in the player base. Despite ongoing updates from developers, many feel that the game remains unfinished and unstable, making it difficult to recommend at this time.
“I'm just getting my feet wet in this game after having read reviews and watched some YouTube videos. It runs great on my Sony Vaio laptop at max settings.”
“For an early access game, it's more stable and bug-free than a lot of actual full releases. The price is fairly modest considering how fun the game is.”
“The game is not worth the effort. I have 550 hours in-game and over the year kept trying to play it with the same result: too laggy, too buggy, never get what was advertised on the main sites. They do not listen to the community, the population is near gone, max 100 on in a 24-hour period with some time periods down to 24 or less across 3 servers.”
“I am unable to recommend this game right now as there are a number of exploits like infinite stamina, duping, glitch teleport (where your character pretty much blinks forward). Even though there have been a number of videos posted of players abusing those bugs/glitches, weeks later they are still playing the game.”
“Game constantly lags. My character glitches backwards while I am running.”
- music46 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its relaxing and atmospheric qualities, which enhance the overall experience. However, some find the soundtrack repetitive and lacking in variety, with calls for more diverse musical content. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, opinions vary significantly on its quality and engagement.
“The music is surprisingly very relaxing.”
“The soundtrack alone is uplifting, regardless of crazed red players or skeletons of the night.”
“The music and atmosphere of the game is immersive.”
“Countless promises of content, such as magic abilities, and music, which have never been implemented.”
“The soundtrack sucks giant T-Rex dick in my opinion.”
“The music is more than just annoying - it's irritating.”
- story37 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as lacking depth and coherence, with players noting a disjointed narrative that revolves around survival and building rather than a compelling plot arc. While some hidden lore exists through diary entries, many players feel that the absence of structured quests and meaningful content detracts from the overall experience, leading to a sense of aimlessness. Overall, the story is seen as a missed opportunity, with players hoping for future updates to enhance narrative elements and gameplay variety.
“A backstory was created through hidden diary entries around the world.”
“This game is great; I do not regret buying it. I bought it like 2 days ago and already have 10+ hours. You get lost in character development and you build your own quest and gameplay.”
“It shares a story of ogres, zombies, and sheep.”
“The only thing you do is build and grind... no bosses, no story, the guilds suck, gank fest, and many more not mentioned... go play and buy something else.”
“I'm so tired trying to make this game better for any member of our guilds, for people who start... but can't anymore... played for 1 year, cause I thought developers would finish what they started. This game has huge potential, but failed because they didn't know what to do. There's no content in PvE, no end game stuff, and the sad part of the story is, there's no game like this, so I tell you just sit and wait, don't waste your money... cause this game has no future.”
“If this game doesn't get a mission option soon, or a different level system throughout the world (meaning the monsters get tougher in different regions), the game will not satisfy players.”
- optimization34 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 32 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting poor performance, high system requirements, and frequent crashes. While some users experience minimal stuttering, others face significant lag and low frame rates, regardless of their hardware capabilities. Many reviewers suggest that the game feels unpolished and still in early access, indicating a pressing need for optimization improvements.
“The pace of things is very slow, and the optimization isn't the best; there is lag in most every action and combat is unintuitive.”
“Just need more optimization for better graphic performance and fix some minor bugs.”
“I would assume this is due to compatibility issues and optimization; very disappointing as this is my main PC.”
“Poorly optimized and requires far more PC efficiency than stated in the description.”
“The game isn't optimized well; the servers crash sometimes (but they give a resource buff on restart for a few hours). It is grindy, and it still feels like early access.”
“The system requirements for this game are way out of whack. It says you should have a required amount of 2GB of RAM; my sister had 4GB and it wouldn't run, thus the problem of optimization.”
- humor22 mentions
- 95 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely appreciated, with players enjoying the funny animations, quirky creatures, and lighthearted interactions, which contribute to a fun and engaging experience. Many find the game's cartoonish style enhances its comedic elements, fostering a sense of community and laughter among players. However, some critiques highlight that while the humor is present, the gameplay can be frustrating, particularly in competitive scenarios, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.
“Looking forward to the game; it has some nice animations/models. I didn't know we could even ride a chicken; it was so funny!”
“Definitively worth the money! Much better than other games of its style; the cute cartoon aspect adds to the game's humor and fun.”
“Unlimited freestyle game, and explorer; funny crafting all things and build town with your mates.”
“Not good, not funny.”
- monetization20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 70 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with users labeling it a "cash grab" due to the prevalence of expensive microtransactions and misleading advertisements. Many feel that the developers have removed key features and misrepresented the game's content, leading to a perception that the game is primarily designed to generate revenue rather than provide a fulfilling experience. Overall, players express concern that the game's monetization strategy undermines its potential and enjoyment.
“Game supports in-game purchases for power.”
“Early release game for 2 years with in-game purchases.”
“I get the impression that if this game ever gets out of beta, microtransactions will creep into it.”
“Now the devs are pushing a 'new' version of the game, likely rife with microtransactions.”
“Cash grab at its finest.”
“So in short, the 'launch' of the game was a cash grab to help fund development and pay employees while providing a game not ready to be officially launched.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its relaxing and immersive qualities, enhanced by beautiful graphics and brilliant music. Players appreciate the casual vibe, reminiscent of classic MMOs, which allows for enjoyable base building and exploration without the pressure of constant management. Overall, the game creates a tranquil and charming environment that appeals to both casual and dedicated gamers.
“It's very relaxed, the music is brilliant and just adds to the atmosphere, making the game very peaceful.”
“The game has an extremely pleasant and relaxing atmosphere, and I love it! It reminds me of an old MMO I used to play that had an awesome community and wonderful atmosphere.”
“The music and atmosphere of the game is immersive.”
“The atmosphere is cute!”
“You get to build your village and craft and explore different atmospheres.”
“#1 the atmosphere.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers indicate that the game offers solid replayability, particularly for two-player groups, and express a willingness to embrace updates that enhance gameplay. Overall, the existing content is deemed sufficient for enjoyable repeated play.
“Should make the game more enjoyable for a two-player group.”
“I do not mind entire bug fix updates if they make the game more playable.”
“There's already a complete and playable game here.”
“Should make the game more playable for a two-player group.”
“I do not mind entire bug fix updates if it makes the game more playable.”
“There's already an entire playable game here.”
- character development3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is engaging and allows for significant player investment, with persistent stats and the ability to create personalized quests. However, there are criticisms regarding the lack of variety in character designs, such as limited options for faces and body types, and some technical issues that can detract from the experience.
“This game is great! I do not regret buying it. I bought it like 2 days ago and already have 10+ hours. You get lost in character development and you build your own quest and gameplay.”
“Tree of Life, however, could use improvements in character designs, which includes different faces, hairstyles, body builds, etc.”
“Your stats persist, and your character development stays the same.”
“Tree of Life, however, could use improvements in character designs, which includes different faces, hairstyles, body builds, etc. The game can also be pretty buggy at certain points, such as the lighting working awkwardly or monsters appearing invisible.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional response to the game is mixed, with some users expressing frustration and disappointment, leading them to delay engagement until significant updates are made. Overall, while the game has potential, its current state has left players feeling hesitant and unsatisfied.