• Review: Minecraft (Xbox 360)

    by
    Scott "mountain_duwe " Duwe
    Published on 05-10-2012 03:16 PM
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    Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition



    Developer: Mojang/4J Studios
    Publisher: Mojang/Microsoft Studios
    Platform: Xbox 360
    Genre: Action/Adventure
    Rating: Pending
    Release Date: May 9, 2012 (US)

    Minecraft is quite unlike any other game out there. Those of you who have played it on PC are already aware of this. But for someone like me without a gaming-quality PC(as a matter of fact, my laptop laughs in my face whenever I try to install any kind of game), the news of Minecraft coming to Xbox 360 was an extremely welcome announcement. I’ve watched people play it and never really understood what all the fuss was about, but I can now confidently say I know why it’s so popular.

    Presentation
    The story of Minecraft is that there is no story. It’s what you make of it. You’re thrown into a randomly generated world with nothing at your disposal other than your fists when you first start. From then on out, it’s your job to build the world around you. Build a house, build a castle, build a fortress—it’s up to you.

    Graphics
    Most of Minecraft’s charm comes from its seemingly-outdated look of textured cubes making up everything in the game. That being said, for what it is, the game looks excellent on Xbox 360 and an HDTV. I’ve noticed some visual hitches and framerate lag after playing several hours in multiplayer, but the simplicity of the graphics is one of the many things that makes Minecraft truly unique.

    Sound/Music
    Zombies moan, spiders hiss and skeletons shoot at you with a ‘thwip’ of their crossbow. As you mine different textures—anything from gravel and sand to stone and wood—the noise your pickaxe makes changes to reflect the texture and density.

    The music is peaceful and innocent, which reflects the theme and overall feel of the game and its world. Even when getting attacked by Creepers that can blow up and destroy your house, the soft piano intonations accompanied by the surrounding world and visual style create a nostalgic aura that brings back fun childhood memories of games of old.

    Gameplay
    Building. That’s what Minecraft is really all about. You mine and you craft. You mine materials and you use said materials to craft other items or build whatever you want. Some might say that Minecraft isn’t really a game, and they have an argument. There’s no way to ‘finish’ or ‘complete’ the game. There’s no final boss or narrative whatsoever. Minecraft is more about being creative, digging through mines for gold and treasure, and building things with your friends.

    The game runs on a day-night cycle, and when it gets dark, all the creepy crawlies come out to play. This is why it's important to build a house with a bed to protect yourself from things that go bump in the night. When creating a new world, the first thing you'll want to do is build a house and equip it with a bed so you can sleep through until dawn. For the night is dark and full of terrors.

    The meat of the game is in the multiplayer. You can invite friends or set the game world to open and have them join you on a whim to help build(or destroy, depending on how trollish they are) awesome things. Joining a friend on a quest into a dark, dreary cave filled with monsters to try to find gold or iron or whatever it is you need to help build your next construction project is a joy.

    With this being a port of the PC version, those who have the game on PC might scoff at the Xbox 360 version. It is, after all, an outdated version of the PC game, and there is no possibility for mods. There’s also no “Creative” mode which the PC is famous for, giving you free range to pick and choose items and materials without having to work for them to help build ridiculous things, like this:



    That’s not really an option in Minecraft, and it’s disappointing, but I wouldn’t count the game out just yet.

    Lasting Appeal
    There are a large amount of possibilities in Minecraft. Start a new world, build within it to its limits and then start a new world and do the same thing. Or do it differently, it’s up to you. Playing the game with friends is extremely fun and a lot of replay value will be found building/destroying things with buddies in an Xbox Live party.

    On May 10, Microsoft announced that Minecraft was the fastest-selling Xbox Live Arcade title to date, breaking the record previously held by Trials Evolution. Exact numbers weren’t given, but it was said that over 400,000 people were playing Minecraft online on the first day. With this in mind, Minecraft will be seeing a ton of downloadable content, that I can assure you. This is a good jump-off point, but I think that DLC will help extend the game to resemble its PC counterpart a little better.

    Conclusion
    Minecraft for Xbox 360 is a watered down version of its PC brethren, but for those who haven’t played the game on computer or are unable to run it, it could be a very nice addition to your gaming library. I even have friends who adore the game on PC so much that they bit the bullet and bought it for Xbox 360 as well, and they enjoy it. Me personally, I have to give it two thumbs up. It’s an excellent change of pace from the world of first-person shooters and big-budget titles we live in.

    Score:
    8.0/10

  • Review Scale

    Score 10- Flawless Victory: A score not handed out to every game. Games earning this rare score sit at the very pinnacle of excellence. These games act as the examples for which all others should be measured with. They are instant classics from the beginning. These games not only deliver what was expected of it, but also exceed the player’s expectations. The game’s features are innovative and original. No game is without its absolute flaws, but the finished product you bring home surpasses the anticipation the game has formed. A day one buy is a must. The game you hold in your hands with this score is a video game jackpot.

    Score 9 - 9.5- Outstanding: Games earning scores such as these absolutely must be played. Games that achieve this high ranking do so because they define the genres that they are in. Flaws are few and barely noticeable. Features seen in the game have been renovated to provide something new and fresh. The story, gameplay, graphics, and lasting appeal are all fantastic and is reason enough to bring the game home and to enjoy with family and friends. Every penny you spend on the game is so worth it.

    Score 8 - 8.5- Great: Any flaw the game may possess is overshadowed by its fun factor. These games would be great for gamers to play. These great games appeal to gamers more and more outside its normal player base because of what it brings to the table.

    Score 7 - 7.5- Good: Flaws do exist in these games, but the positive features of the game can counterbalance the flaws. Additionally, players who are predisposed to liking a game of a particular series or genre with this score should enjoy the game. These are in no way bad games, and much fun can be had with them. An overall good game is worth taking a look at, whether you are willing to buy the game or rent it first. That or you can also wait for the game to reach a good price.

    Score 6 - 6.5- Decent: Games falling into this category may suffer from numerous flaws (for example, graphics or gameplay), but are still worth playing. Granted, the player should be aware that a game with these scores may not guarantee them full satisfaction.

    Score 5 - 5.5- Average: An average game is one in which a game’s features are neither good nor completely terrible. Instead, the finished product is manageable. Little has been done to hold the player’s interest. If anything, rent this game before you consider buying it so that you can at least get a feel for the game’s overall experience.

    Score 4 - 4.5- Poor: Games falling into this category may only keep gamers entertained for a short while. While the game may seem enjoyable for moments at a time, it can quickly grow old and may never be revisited again. The game’s overall function is lacking in quality and may not hold the player’s attention for long. The game leaves little or nothing else to return back to.

    Score 3 - 3.5- Bad: If any positive qualities about a game in this category exist, it is not enough to redeem the game for its shortcomings. Sure you may find yourself playing it, but for how long? You will wind up not giving the game a second glance.

    Score 2 - 2.5- Horrible: Games such as these may not be totally unplayable, they nearly are. Additionally, they may lack, or greatly suffer in, the fundamental functionality of the software as a whole. The game simply does not come close to meeting industry standards at the time of its release.

    Score 1 - 1.5- Appalling: Gamers should avoid this game at all costs. The game was clearly not ready to make its way to store shelves in its status. Save your money and find something else. See it in the bargain bin? No! Stay away! Keep moving and look for something else.

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