Tribes of Midgard Review (TemporaryLlama)
I really don't understand the negative reviews of this game. I have owned the game since Season 1 and have played for almost 40 hours - most if it in Saga mode - without ever experiencing a bug that was notable, let alone game-breaking. Not saying they don't exist, or people's experiences are invalid, but it's just strange to me to see some calling it unplayable.
I also typically only play the game with 3-5 people, so have not attempted to max it out at 10 players. I could see where if the host was located far away or didn't have an excellent connection that it could be a problem. Also, not being able to join mid-match could potentially cause an issue if someone does experience a disconnect (not sure if they would be able to rejoin?), but again, these are not issues that are so prominent that they have affected me personally. I have played with people ~2,000 miles away without a problem.
From what I'm reading, it seems that some people potentially are not understanding the play-style, so perhaps I can shed some light on that for potential buyers.
What the game is NOT...
A solo-player's dream game
It's obvious both by the name (Tribes of Midgard) and the play style that this game is designed as a multiplayer game. I think it could be fun to play solo (in Survival mode perhaps), but the game in general is tailored to, and will most definitely be more enjoyable for, groups of friends. If you are trying to solo Saga especially, it's just not going to be as fun in my opinion. I also don't think you will find yourself very happy playing with randoms as this game takes coordination and some level of trust among a tribe, and people can be ... well, people.
Your next 1,000+ hour addiction (probably)
Tribes is also potentially not a game you are going to play for two months non-stop, but it's a game definitely worth returning to from time to time. My friends and I will usually play it intensely for a a week or so, kill the boss(es), complete some challenges, and then move on to different games and return when there is a new update/season. Perhaps there are people who play it more regularly and that's awesome! I think Survival mode tries to put in a bit more longevity as well.
Be prepared for a challenge!
I think it's important to note that if you are looking to play the "main" mode (the Saga mode) that it indeed will be a challenge the first couple of times you play it. That's the point. You really aren't supposed to get it on the first attempt, or even necessarily the fifth attempt, and it's supposed to feel a bit overwhelming until you figure things out and start to understand your priorities/goals. - You'll learn what's important, what's not, and will continue to progress further and further each run.
Your first couple attempts will likely only last a few game days (and thus be shorter games) until your tree collapses or you 'nope' out with the bifrost. Once you start figuring things out and start getting closer to defeating the season boss, each run will take you just over two hours maximum - because by that point you will likely be overwhelmed if you haven't already won, and eventually you may become skilled enough to do it in much less time.
Ultimately, when starting out and progressing, be prepared for around two hours of moderately-paced game play with basically "zero chill" while you explore, gather, gear, build, defend, and do other tasks to complete your Saga goal(s). Take your potty breaks in advance people.
Enjoy some chill game play in Survival
The last thing I want to mention is the Survival mode because some friends and I just started playing this mode recently and so far I really enjoy it. I look forward to logging many additional hours in this mode and would definitely recommend it for those looking to experiment a bit more with various builds for gear and armor, master the structure building (like ramps), focus more on gathering and exploration, and just generally "exist" without the wild hustle and bustle of Saga.