I remember when I first played this, and honestly, I was surprised at the quality of it. Obviously no masterpiece, but definitely something worth playing for anyone looking for a bit of a nostalgia trip.
Totally agree with you.
The level grind is no joke, but in the other hand reaching a new area many times means updating your team, which is refreshing.
The region is charming, totally new way to play gen 1 games. The current bugs sre annoying, but don't impede gameplay by any means.
A little maze-like, with some backtracking, but on emulator with x3 times speed and the level difference when backtracking it is no problem.
Many of the popular pokemon are available early game, which is nice.
The wild spawns seem to have been well thought, but I totally hate some of them being a 1% encounter and not being available elsewhere, albeit this is only important for pokédex completion. Example: shellder, staryu and horsea only available as 1% encounters ON THE SAME CAVE, so you don't really even know which floor to look for them.
Super rod encounters could have used more work (if used at all). Also there's a bug (probably a typo) were you can fish a level 110 kadabra and level 110 slowpoke. Not sure if intentional, as gaining exp
Some trade and stone evos have been updated to level up, which is nice.
The game is challenging, so if you are up for a challenge I totally recommend it. If you are a casual and only want a playthrough, get some rare candy cheated in and enjoy the ride.
I did really enjoy this romhack, so I'll probably dump some data (encounter tables, learnsets etc).
I definitely recommend it as a gen 1 romhack.
Edit: reading the thread now, and this post really has useful information for anyone playing this game and wanting to complete the pokédex:
https://www.pokecommunity.com/threads/pokemon-tre-team-rocket-edition.101051/post-3618239
Edit 2: just completed the dex by cheating in the other two starters and the other hitmon as those 5 are the only unobtainable pokémon in the game.
Game corner pokémon are a little glitched (level 0), but oh well.
I expected a little more text when completing the dex, but I'm not complaining.
Also, I haven't been able to find either any fossil or the place were you are supposed to revive them :/
In any case I assume the problem mentioned in the thread of the fossil not reviving is because the lab has been relocated from what was previously cinnabar island. Cinnabar island has a script that handles the fossil, so to revive it you need to go to the city that corresponda to cinnabar in this hack.
Also, haven't found the old amber either.