Overview

While I admit "Once and Future King" may be a little over kill if we're talking about the catagory of "Vanilla Biome Overhauls" It might be just that, It depends what you're looking for as a player. If you want the most flashy mod out there then this isn't it, Something more along the lines of Biomes o plenty is what you're looking for.

But if you want a simple high quality overhaul to vanilla biomes this mod really does do just that and it does it well. Other than the same issues a lot of biome mods might face compared to vanilla generation like some structure mods being coded with vanilla biomes in might there really isn't much to complain about here. If I asked for more detail that really would be defeating the point of the simplicity of the mod.

While it may be getting into the territory of overused in the same way as mods like farmers delight and create I think with the right implementation it stands as one of the best biome mods out there.

Reviewer's PC Specs:
Windows 11
AMD Ryzen™ 9 7900 @ 3.70GHz - RAM: 32 GB
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT - VRAM: 16 GB

If you can, avoid using it. The only reason people use this mod is if they don't know mods like E4MC exist, they want to be able to play with their friends in the easiest way possible and this does that. But so do plenty of other mods.

And unlike Essential the rest of them don't try and pressure the player in to paying for Microtransactions..... yes you heard that right.... Every time you open the escape menu you be presented a special offer to buy a cosmetic...

Now as much as I dislike this model is get 2 stars as it does work, you can use it, the cosmetics do look decent and looking past the microtransactions the functionality is there. And I can MAYBE understand then need for funding for the mod... but even then every other mod out there does without...

If you want to play with your friends.... use E4MC or better yet! host your own server locally.

If you want cosmetics.... download a cosmetics mod....

Reviewer's PC Specs:
Windows 11
AMD Ryzen™ 9 7900 @ 3.70GHz - RAM: 32 GB
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT - VRAM: 16 GB

Overview

No one can question why this mod is at almost 60 million total downloads across both Forge and Fabric, It was one of the first major high quality content mods that made it big. Adding a new biomes, mobs, bosses and items all that fit perfectly within the mods theme. When used along side the mod Obscure tooltips the items look simply incredible with unique designs and descriptions.

It doesn't try to change parts of the game that already exist nor does it and content that pushes outside of what the mod claims do.

I can't think of anything to criticise about this one, other than the fact I wish there was more of it! More customisation through the configs maybe?

While it has its bugs like all mods do there are usually quickly recognised and fixed.

There are only a small number of mods that I can confidently say match the overall quality provided by Aquamirae, While development on the mod has slowed recently new version and content for the mod are in the works and I personally am really looking forward to seeing what in store!

(This review will be used for both the Forge and Fabric Versions of the Mod)

Reviewer's PC Specs:
Windows 11
AMD Ryzen™ 9 7900 @ 3.70GHz - RAM: 32 GB
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT - VRAM: 16 GB

Overview

No one can question why this mod is at almost 60 million total downloads across both Forge and Fabric, It was one of the first major high quality content mods that made it big. Adding a new biomes, mobs, bosses and items all that fit perfectly within the mods theme. When used along side the mod Obscure tooltips the items look simply incredible with unique designs and descriptions.

It doesn't try to change parts of the game that already exist nor does it and content that pushes outside of what the mod claims do.

I can't think of anything to criticise about this one, other than the fact I wish there was more of it! More customisation through the configs maybe?

While it has its bugs like all mods do there are usually quickly recognised and fixed.

There are only a small number of mods that I can confidently say match the overall quality provided by Aquamirae, While development on the mod has slowed recently new version and content for the mod are in the works and I personally am really looking forward to seeing what in store!

(This review will be used for both the Forge and Fabric Versions of the Mod)

Reviewer's PC Specs:
Windows 11
AMD Ryzen™ 9 7900 @ 3.70GHz - RAM: 32 GB
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT - VRAM: 16 GB

Overview

Now this is going to be more or less the same points as my review for Xaeros Minimap, and for good reason, They might as well be one single mod. You rarely find yourself installing one without the other. Over the last few years Xaeros World map and Minimap have taken over Journey map as the go to Map mod for modpacks and even for players that just want to make their own Vanilla plus experience, Who can question why? It looks good, its customisable, its has every feature you could possibly ask for from a map mod and its about as easy to uses as you could possibly want it to be. Hit M, Your map is open, Job done....

We are at a point in time where its that well used its beginning to get compatibility addons, I know there's a mod that let's you automatically add waypoint upon discover ling waystone. And I'm sure we'll be seeing more in the future.

I think all I could ask from this more is more customisability, maybe in the form of themes, make the map look black and white, that old yellowed coffee stained sort of look?

The standard for what a good map mod should be, Clean, Efficient and Easy to use.

Well done Xaeros

Reviewer's PC Specs:
Windows 11
AMD Ryzen™ 9 7900 @ 3.70GHz - RAM: 32 GB
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT - VRAM: 16 GB

Overview

I bet you've used it before? Over the last few years Xaeros Minimap and World map have taken over Journey map as the go to Map mod for modpacks, Who can question why? It looks good, its customisable, its has every feature you could possibly ask for from a map mod and its about as easy to uses as you could possibly want it to be.

We are at a point in time where its that well used its beginning to get compatibility addons, I know there's a mod that let's you automatically add waypoint upon discover ling waystone. And I'm sure we'll be seeing more in the future.

I think all I could ask from this more is more customisability, custom borders maybe? Maybe an old style theme?

The standard for what a good map mod should be, Clean, Efficient and Easy to use.

Well done Xaeros

Reviewer's PC Specs:
Windows 11
AMD Ryzen™ 9 7900 @ 3.70GHz - RAM: 32 GB
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT - VRAM: 16 GB

Overview

Pixelmon really was the stepping stone that allowed Cobblemon to shine as well as it does now, While it may not have the polish or quality as Cobblemon does its where most of us began out journey with Pokemon in Minecraft, Pixelmon really did have it all, I spent 3 years as a builder on a Cobblemon server and its one of the best experiences in Minecraft I've ever had.

Even to this day Pixelmon does technically offer a larger variety of Pokemon than Cobblemon does, the main reason for this is quality. Unlike Cobblemon, Pixelmon does not use custom assets for its Pokemon it just uses models from the Pokemon games and as such it can add new Pokemon much much quicker.

Unfortunately for Pixelmon as Cobblemon grows Pixelmon is slowly going to be overshadowed...

Reviewer's PC Specs:
Windows 11
AMD Ryzen™ 9 7900 @ 3.70GHz - RAM: 32 GB
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT - VRAM: 16 GB

Overview

FTB Quests has been lucky enough to find itself in a position where nothing else has really ever been able to compete with it, Its never really felt like it fit within the game, Its a spreadsheet? Its never been immersive, its never been pretty. But what it does do is work, and to its credit it works well.

FTB Quests has managed to establish itself as THE questing mod, you'd be hard pressed to find a large pack these days that doesn't use it, and thats for good reason, its the tried and tested method to guide players through your pack, its easy to set up and its easy to use.

I think we are slowly getting to a stage where people are getting tired of seeing FTB Quests in packs. While it works its doesn't really feel like it fits within the game, its ui doesn't look particularly good and has limited customisability, I've never thought "Oh yes ftb Quests I love this mod!", it more "ah ftb Quests again...".

I think its about time other questing methods are given a chance, Mods like QuestLog show a lot of promise as an option for new pack creators.

As solid as this mod is you won't hear any complaints from me if I were to start seeing it less.

Reviewer's PC Specs:
Windows 11
AMD Ryzen™ 9 7900 @ 3.70GHz - RAM: 32 GB
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT - VRAM: 16 GB

Overview

At one point in time Biomes O' Plenty really was everyones go to biome mod, there was a time where it was added to modpacks liek Farmers Delight and Create is today, but with so many more options becoming available its slowly lost some of its relevance.

That's not to say its a bad mod, Its not, I fact I think it still holds up today as one of the better Biome mods. I just think that will the wider variety of options people are less inclined to choose it. Mods like Terralith offer unique biome while still using vanilla wood, this allows for much easier integration with other mods without having to code additional compatibility layers.

Some of its textures can feel a little dated and a lot of the world can feel like it exists without any really purpose, but all in all not a bad biome mod even to this day.

Reviewer's PC Specs:
Windows 11
AMD Ryzen™ 9 7900 @ 3.70GHz - RAM: 32 GB
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT - VRAM: 16 GB

Overview

This mod is one of those that you don't even think about installing, you just install it. You make you new instance, go to add mods and just hit install. You don't think is this mod good? Do I need it? What does this do? You just install it.

And it works. It works great.

Does exactly what it says it does and it does it perfectly.

Reviewer's PC Specs:
Windows 11
AMD Ryzen™ 9 7900 @ 3.70GHz - RAM: 32 GB
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT - VRAM: 16 GB