Once you start making your imaginations a blocky reality you'll realize that several hours have pass since you started
Developer: Mojang
Publisher: Mojang
Platform: XBLA ( 1600 MS points)
Genre: First-person, Sandbox
Release Date: May 9, 2012
Online: 4 Player Split-screen, 8 Player Online
The hugely successful independent game Minecraft has finally landed on the Xbox 360 and provides the player an immense array of blocky resources to build creative structures. While you can technically complete the game by obtaining all the achievements in Minecraft it doesn't have a solid conclusion. Instead you are placed into a 3D sandbox world where your objective is what you make it and targets players who thrive from random adventures without an explanation other then personal gratification. Minecraft isn't about a single component but multiple elements that combine into an unshackled inventive speculation. Minecraft may suffer from questionable issues but once you start making your imaginations a blocky reality you'll realize that several hours have pass since you started.
At the start of the game you are placed into a randomly generated world without any tools or resources and without a plot or specific direction to follow, you are instead tasked with finding your own path. The world isn't spectacular to look at but the visuals are charming and natural, especially when the day ends and the creatures of the night begin to hunt for you. You proceed throughout this Lego-like environment freely as you explore, gather resources, forge tools, battle monsters, or build while listening to calming but repetitive music. The game can feel overwhelming when you first enter but after gather wood, craft weapons, tools, and create your first home things become manageable. As you build and gather blocks things become more addictive as the next addition to your new home becomes larger, more elaborate, or something completely different. The ability to exercise limitless freedom can become addicting as you mold this fantasy world into your liking.
Minecraft provides an array of tips and tutorials for players. A tutorial level provides all the basics of Minecraft and allows you to continue to play in that world, if you choose to. Tips about each resource you encounter provide helpful information about each block. The crafting menu separates every item into categories and provides information of what each item requires, what you have, and what's missing. This system is quick and easy so players can craft items without any hassle.
Minecraft provides an easy to use interface to create imaginative structures but certain difficulties and limitations prevent it from loving up to its full potential. Only one mode exists where the player must collect every resource and survive the nighttime horrors, for a game that encourages creativity it is strange that a mode solely dedicated to building wasn't added. The game also provides a poor mapping system devoid of markers and requires the player to manually select it from the inventory to view your location. The world itself is limited by an invisible dome that limited how far a player can travel. These issues constrain the player to annoying conditions, perhaps these difficulties will be fixed in later patches.
While traversing the world of Minecraft is fun things get better when you bring friends along. Minecraft allows players to invite up to 8 players into their virtual world or play split-screen with up to 4 players, provide it's an HDTV connection. Its fun to explore and build alone but playing with makes these adventures better as you create, explore, and fight alongside friends. Online functions are smooth and rarely experience any lag with a stable connection, allowing players to share their creations to one another.
Minecraft is a wonderfully crafted game from those seeking to express their creatively. Although some issues are hard to look past such as the vexing navigation and no creative mode, Minecraft delivers a sense of accomplishment after finishing a difficult structure of your own design or finish gathering enough of a specific item. When you enter your world the only constraint placed is when you want to stop playing.
Rating: 7/10