Pros
* Incredible depth that will keep you discovering new things for quite some time
* Great avenue for exercising your creativity
* The environment has an unbelievable level of complexity and does a great job of bringing life to the world
Cons
* At 1600 Microsoft Points ($19.99), you better be sure you are into this
* First glance the graphics are terrible, but this is shortly forgotten once you see the environment in action
* There is a learning curve, however the Xbox 360 does its best with Optional Tutorials.
Console: Xbox 360 Arcade
Date Released: May 9th, 2012
Date Reviewed: July 2nd, 2012
Reviewer: Jon
For the past few years I have had the displeasure of hearing tales of Minecraft from just about every video game outlet that you could imagine. After doing some “light” research, I just didn’t understand what all the hype was about. I did manage to see quite a few YouTube videos of insanely detailed structures that I could only dream of building, but what was the point? The title seemed like merely a glorified digital Lego set that would only result in structures that served no other purpose than to showcase one’s dedication and lack of real-world tasks to perform.
So why review this game? Simple, I despise those that judge a game before giving it a fair shot and I had a lot of curiosity about Minecraft gaining such a large following. Titles like Angry Birds and Plants Vs. Zombies have quite the cult following and once I gave those a try I quickly fell in love and understood the appeal. Would this one be any different? I had to give a shot…
Presentation : B
Graphics / Animation / Sound
At first glance, Minecraft fails to impress. I am not one to put all of my focus on a game’s graphics, but I do find them somewhat important. I always have a tough time getting into a game when the graphics actually hinder the gameplay. I do enjoy going back to classic shooters, but when you are used to having shootouts in HD it can be quite the adjustment to settle for anything less. Believe it or not this isn’t the case with Minecraft. If it is possible for something with such low texture quality to be so clear this would be the prime example. With textures that scream “NES Rules!”, and a world that looks the part of a 36 hour Lego Project, Minecraft actually comes out on top.
The moment the world is generated and you start exploring the landscape, you will quickly realize that an entire world has been crafted out of these blocks. Moving clouds, Day/Night cycles, and Flowing Water are just a few examples of some of the complexities that await you. The first time I climbed up on a hill and surveyed the landscape felt very reminiscent of my early Elder Scrolls: Oblivion days. Does it look as good? No, but the scale of the world is quite impressive.
Sound is another strong point for this title. While the sound effects are average and do nothing short of what you would expect, the soundtrack is peaceful and only enhances the many hours that you are likely to spend exploring your creative side. This was another element that caught me off guard as I was expecting to head straight for the sound options a few hours in.
In case it wasn’t obvious this was my first step into the Minecraft world, so I am unable to point out many of the specific additions that the Xbox 360 version added that are exclusive and not available on the PC. I do know that the Xbox 360 Edition remains a few editions behind its PC counterpart, but with regular title updates the Xbox users will stay pretty caught up with things. I also know that one of these exclusive enhancements is the use of item descriptions and tutorials that really helped me learn the basic gameplay mechanics without too much trouble. Judging by the community it seems the only way to gain any extra insight into the PC version would be to visit a Minecraft Wiki or explore Forums for answers. While these steps can still come in handy, it is very helpful to see what Iron Ore can be used for with a simple click of a button.
Single Player : B
Game mechanics / Length / difficulty
Aside from the surprising presentation, this is the heart of the game. The addictive nature of freedom grabs ahold and refuses to let go. I went into this game wondering what all the hype was about, and came out wanting to keep playing with no clear reason as to why I felt that way. It can be tough to describe at times, but the ability to Dig and Build in any direction goes along way. Want to dig a cave? Want to build a tower? Want to build a castle and connect all three? All of this is just as simple as placing blocks and destroying them. So you built a tower and want to experiment with water? Not a problem, just craft a bucket and go get some. I mention this because like most people at some point, I constructed a tower. But I also built a glass holding tank on top so that I can create a waterfall that runs down the center of it. Does it stop there? Nope, this waterfall also connects to an underground stream that runs underneath my house in a cave that I spent many hours digging.
Every experience spent in the game world is unique and really only limited by your imagination. The ability to explore an interactive map that can be shaped to your liking is really an experience that must be seen to really appreciate.
So how does all this work? Well, everything is the world is made of blocks. (Obviously) But each block represents a different resource. Dirt, Gravel, Cobblestone are to name a few. Even the water is made up of blocks, however these are a little more complex as they do flow across the land and flow into each other.
You are able to start manipulating immediately as everything can be broken down to a resource form with the correct tool. (For example Cobblestone will present a challenge if you don’t have a pickaxe.) A basic run through would go something like this….
Start chopping at trees to get enough wood
Craft wood into wooden planks
Craft wooden sticks from wooden planks
Craft wooden axe out of sticks to gather wood faster
Everything from Doors, Beds, Buckets and Tools have specific resource requirements and it always feels like there is something else that needs to be done. I am not sure if this is a good thing or not, but for the most part it never really gets boring. I did get wind of a mode for the PC version in which resources are unlimited and there is no need to gather them, however this mode is absent on the Xbox 360 version.
The creation aspect of the game comes from not only using the tools crafted, but sometimes its as simple as placing the dirt or cobblestone directly. The freedom to build any structure of your choosing can be time-consuming, but equally as rewarding once you see your vision come to light.
My biggest question going in to this title was “Is that all you do….build?” The short answer to this question is yes, but once the sun goes down monsters enter the mix. This can serve a dual purpose since most monsters drop useful resources once they are killed, but since you have a health bar the other challenge is to survive the night. Combat is simple, you are able to fight with pretty much anything, but if you craft a sword this process goes much smoother. This monster mechanic can also serve to introduce a bit of randomness to the gameplay. Nothing says random like having your porch blown up by a Creeper because you decided to step outside and kill a sheep that got trapped between blocks.
Multiplayer : A
Game mechanics / features / Online features
Minecraft has multiplayer? Yes. Not only does this title support 4 player split screen, but also lets you enter a world with up to 8 of your Xbox Live friends. This can be a blast, but beware if you are playing with people you don’t know. You may find your hard-earned creations destroyed before you know it.
The best part about any of these options, is the ability for other players to join your game at any time. If someone has to get offline or leave, no problem either. Drop-in / Drop-out multiplayer is a great addition to any game and seems to add a lot of value here.
Replay Value : C
Lasting appeal / Bonus Content / DLC
While Minecraft does so much with so little, this is going to be a matter of preference. How long will you enjoy building your creations or exploring the map? This title will likely appeal to anyone who enjoys playing a game for more than 10 hours, but if you come in looking for instant gratification you will likely be let down. Minecraft takes a while to understand and even longer to get the results you want. This can be both a gift and a curse, but if this seems like your thing there is a ton of potential here. I would highly recommend giving it a try, however at 1600 Microsoft points be sure to choose wisely.
Overall : B
Pros
* Incredible depth that will keep you discovering new things for quite some time
* Great avenue for exercising your creativity
* The environment has an unbelievable level of complexity and does a great job of bringing life to the world
Cons
* At 1600 Microsoft Points ($19.99), you better be sure you are into this
* First glance the graphics are terrible, but this is shortly forgotten once you see the environment in action
* There is a learning curve, however the Xbox 360 does its best with Optional Tutorials.
Console: Xbox 360 Arcade
Date Released: May 9th, 2012
Date Reviewed: July 2nd, 2012
Reviewer: Jon
For the past few years I have had the displeasure of hearing tales of Minecraft from just about every video game outlet that you could imagine. After doing some “light” research, I just didn’t understand what all the hype was about. I did manage to see quite a few YouTube videos of insanely detailed structures that I could only dream of building, but what was the point? The title seemed like merely a glorified digital Lego set that would only result in structures that served no other purpose than to showcase one’s dedication and lack of real-world tasks to perform.
So why review this game? Simple, I despise those that judge a game before giving it a fair shot and I had a lot of curiosity about Minecraft gaining such a large following. Titles like Angry Birds and Plants Vs. Zombies have quite the cult following and once I gave those a try I quickly fell in love and understood the appeal. Would this one be any different? I had to give a shot…
Presentation : B
Graphics / Animation / Sound
At first glance, Minecraft fails to impress. I am not one to put all of my focus on a game’s graphics, but I do find them somewhat important. I always have a tough time getting into a game when the graphics actually hinder the gameplay. I do enjoy going back to classic shooters, but when you are used to having shootouts in HD it can be quite the adjustment to settle for anything less. Believe it or not this isn’t the case with Minecraft. If it is possible for something with such low texture quality to be so clear this would be the prime example. With textures that scream “NES Rules!”, and a world that looks the part of a 36 hour Lego Project, Minecraft actually comes out on top.
The moment the world is generated and you start exploring the landscape, you will quickly realize that an entire world has been crafted out of these blocks. Moving clouds, Day/Night cycles, and Flowing Water are just a few examples of some of the complexities that await you. The first time I climbed up on a hill and surveyed the landscape felt very reminiscent of my early Elder Scrolls: Oblivion days. Does it look as good? No, but the scale of the world is quite impressive.
Sound is another strong point for this title. While the sound effects are average and do nothing short of what you would expect, the soundtrack is peaceful and only enhances the many hours that you are likely to spend exploring your creative side. This was another element that caught me off guard as I was expecting to head straight for the sound options a few hours in.
In case it wasn’t obvious this was my first step into the Minecraft world, so I am unable to point out many of the specific additions that the Xbox 360 version added that are exclusive and not available on the PC. I do know that the Xbox 360 Edition remains a few editions behind its PC counterpart, but with regular title updates the Xbox users will stay pretty caught up with things. I also know that one of these exclusive enhancements is the use of item descriptions and tutorials that really helped me learn the basic gameplay mechanics without too much trouble. Judging by the community it seems the only way to gain any extra insight into the PC version would be to visit a Minecraft Wiki or explore Forums for answers. While these steps can still come in handy, it is very helpful to see what Iron Ore can be used for with a simple click of a button.
Single Player : B
Game mechanics / Length / difficulty
Aside from the surprising presentation, this is the heart of the game. The addictive nature of freedom grabs ahold and refuses to let go. I went into this game wondering what all the hype was about, and came out wanting to keep playing with no clear reason as to why I felt that way. It can be tough to describe at times, but the ability to Dig and Build in any direction goes along way. Want to dig a cave? Want to build a tower? Want to build a castle and connect all three? All of this is just as simple as placing blocks and destroying them. So you built a tower and want to experiment with water? Not a problem, just craft a bucket and go get some. I mention this because like most people at some point, I constructed a tower. But I also built a glass holding tank on top so that I can create a waterfall that runs down the center of it. Does it stop there? Nope, this waterfall also connects to an underground stream that runs underneath my house in a cave that I spent many hours digging.
Every experience spent in the game world is unique and really only limited by your imagination. The ability to explore an interactive map that can be shaped to your liking is really an experience that must be seen to really appreciate.
So how does all this work? Well, everything is the world is made of blocks. (Obviously) But each block represents a different resource. Dirt, Gravel, Cobblestone are to name a few. Even the water is made up of blocks, however these are a little more complex as they do flow across the land and flow into each other.
You are able to start manipulating immediately as everything can be broken down to a resource form with the correct tool. (For example Cobblestone will present a challenge if you don’t have a pickaxe.) A basic run through would go something like this….
Start chopping at trees to get enough wood
Craft wood into wooden planks
Craft wooden sticks from wooden planks
Craft wooden axe out of sticks to gather wood faster
Everything from Doors, Beds, Buckets and Tools have specific resource requirements and it always feels like there is something else that needs to be done. I am not sure if this is a good thing or not, but for the most part it never really gets boring. I did get wind of a mode for the PC version in which resources are unlimited and there is no need to gather them, however this mode is absent on the Xbox 360 version.
The creation aspect of the game comes from not only using the tools crafted, but sometimes its as simple as placing the dirt or cobblestone directly. The freedom to build any structure of your choosing can be time-consuming, but equally as rewarding once you see your vision come to light.
My biggest question going in to this title was “Is that all you do….build?” The short answer to this question is yes, but once the sun goes down monsters enter the mix. This can serve a dual purpose since most monsters drop useful resources once they are killed, but since you have a health bar the other challenge is to survive the night. Combat is simple, you are able to fight with pretty much anything, but if you craft a sword this process goes much smoother. This monster mechanic can also serve to introduce a bit of randomness to the gameplay. Nothing says random like having your porch blown up by a Creeper because you decided to step outside and kill a sheep that got trapped between blocks.
Multiplayer : A
Game mechanics / features / Online features
Minecraft has multiplayer? Yes. Not only does this title support 4 player split screen, but also lets you enter a world with up to 8 of your Xbox Live friends. This can be a blast, but beware if you are playing with people you don’t know. You may find your hard-earned creations destroyed before you know it.
The best part about any of these options, is the ability for other players to join your game at any time. If someone has to get offline or leave, no problem either. Drop-in / Drop-out multiplayer is a great addition to any game and seems to add a lot of value here.
Replay Value : C
Lasting appeal / Bonus Content / DLC
While Minecraft does so much with so little, this is going to be a matter of preference. How long will you enjoy building your creations or exploring the map? This title will likely appeal to anyone who enjoys playing a game for more than 10 hours, but if you come in looking for instant gratification you will likely be let down. Minecraft takes a while to understand and even longer to get the results you want. This can be both a gift and a curse, but if this seems like your thing there is a ton of potential here. I would highly recommend giving it a try, however at 1600 Microsoft points be sure to choose wisely.
Overall : B
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