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Minecraft game review

Since it first hit PCs a couple of years ago, Minecraft has taken the world by storm. There’s now a yearly MineCon convention. And Minecraft has even been taught in schools. Now, the game has sold a million copies within a few days of its release on Xbox Live.

MINECRAFT
Mojang for Xbox Live

Gameplay: 8.8
Graphics: 8.5
Sound: 8.0
Replay Value: 9.0
Overall Score: 8.8

Pros: Make your own creations. Blocky world feels real. Co-op ability.

Cons: World is slightly smaller than on the PC. Inventory is harder to navigate.

MINECRAFT 101

In case you don’t know, Minecraft is a building game. It’s a little like LEGO and a little like Lincoln Logs. You take various textured cubes and build what you want.

So where does the mining come in? The word “mine” is used loosely here. Gathering up trees is, in a sense, mining. You turn them into wood and then make your own structures. Finding the materials to make your own tools to build the wood into, say, a mansion, is mining, too.

It’s not just fun, it’s also really creative. You’re limited only by your own brain … and the time you put in.

ON XBOX LIVE

So let’s see if the Xbox Live version is as deep as the PC version.

First, the Xbox game lets you play co-op with friends and has its own crafting system to make things like tools. Since I’m a console guy, I enjoy making my structures with the controller as opposed to the PC mouse.

And there are tips galore, even as the game loads for the first time. The tutorials also make the game more kid friendly. With the original Minecraft for the PC, there was a ton of detective work you had to do. You had to figure out which substance would make what tool or piece of castle. That kind of research can be fun if you have nothing but time on your hands.

Now there is help for you along the way. Some say the tutorials lessen the magic. I say they add to it. You spend more of your time making things instead of puzzling over how to do things.

COOL AND CHALLENGING

When you dive into Minecraft, the experience is immediately really cool and charming. Simple piano music plays as you arrive on the shores of a beach. Use the right controller trigger to dig into the Earth and cut wood from trees. I didn’t make anything grand and glorious right away. I just set up the beginnings of a small shack by the sea.

Then, darkness fell. A square block of a moon rose high in the sky, and stars twinkled. As I stood there and gawked at nature’s beauty, I heard some steps behind me. Since I was kind of hypnotized by the sights, I didn’t realize it was a Creeper, one of the annoying monsters of Minecraft. I heard a ka-pow, and wham, I lost half my health.

My shelter wasn’t finished, and I couldn’t hide from him!

So I swam out to sea and stayed on a sandbar until morning. The Creeper, a handless creature with a twisted, angry mouth, isn’t always a night owl. Stay away from him during the day or night. He can blow up structures you make, too.

IT’S YOUR WORLD

There are plenty of achievements to get as you go along, such as when you make a furnace, open your inventory for the first time or catch a fish. Eventually, you’ll learn to make fire and electricity. If you play a really long time, you might even find the elusive Ender Dragon.

The graphics in Minecraft are old school, a nod to the early days of video games. But that’s the glory of Minecraft. If it looked too realistic, like Gran Turismo or even The Sims, it wouldn’t have the signature style that makes this game unique.

So go wild on Minecraft. Build like a modern architect. Build like a steampunk novelist. Build like a pioneer. Build high or long or with moats and forests. Build a Scout jamboree park. Then, tear it all down if you like.

This is your world. And Minecraft is a wonderful mirror that is nothing if not a reflection of you.

80 Comments on Minecraft game review

  1. Get the new update for minecraft pocket edition now!!!!

  2. MINECRAFT HAS PENGUINS AND ORCS NOW!!!

    • MARIO MASTER // December 22, 2016 at 4:30 pm // Reply

      Minecraft pocket edition has the best update!!! Minecraft pocket edition is now ahead of Xbox! (TAKE THAT XBOX!!!)

  3. Nice work notch you really put minecraft into the best words possible

  4. I’ve played mine craft a long time and I’m glad they finally updated PE

  5. I rock 1738 // July 12, 2015 at 12:59 pm // Reply

    I have minecraft on my phone my Xbox my moms tablet my kindle my iPod and I’m getting it on the computer when we get it fixed can’t wait it’s my favorite game and it’s THE BEST GAME EVER!!! 😃 it’s so fun I love it

  6. I have been playing minecraft for a long time I love it and I greatly Reccomend it

  7. pat=crazyloon // June 3, 2015 at 2:36 pm // Reply

    the pc version is a lot better than the pe but the co-op feature on the xbox is cool

  8. StormedDuck3325 // February 11, 2015 at 5:44 pm // Reply

    This game rocks! I bought this game @ToysRUs on Black Friday and it was very very cheap!

    #lovinit

  9. Mine+craft= awesome // November 10, 2014 at 9:16 pm // Reply

    steve is an awesome seed.I don’t want to ruin it!!!

  10. Rock Star627 // August 7, 2014 at 5:27 pm // Reply

    I have Console and PE version, and PE is more advanced than Console with biomes, trees, and more stuff! However, not as much redstone, no enchantments or anvils (or brewing stands for that matter), no Nether or End dimensions, or villager trading. No Name Tags or modding in either. AWESOME GAME THOUGH! IF YOU DON’T HAVE IT, GET IT (although I must say it is quite expensive at $20 for Console and $8 for PE).

  11. I love mine craft

  12. MINECRAFT is the beeeeeest!!!!!!!!!

  13. Lil creature // February 2, 2014 at 10:33 am // Reply

    This game is awesome!

  14. what is the best seed in PE

    • I really like “infinity” for a seed. It has many floating islands and mountains but it has no lava. Another good seed is “nether4” which has lava and a couple mountains but isn’t as cool as infinity.

  15. I'malwaysrightteehee // January 22, 2014 at 7:04 pm // Reply

    Herobrine isn’t real.

  16. lord of serpents // January 1, 2014 at 12:47 pm // Reply

    I read that they are working on making the pocket edition like the pc and Xbox edition 🙂

  17. It gets boring🙇

  18. minecraft awesome // September 26, 2013 at 1:01 pm // Reply

    That’s a understatement

  19. I love minecraft!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  20. yes! i think my game minecraft is the best creative game ever!!!! also, i built a castle reaily fast.others like dwarf fortress can not possibly give you this much freedom.

  21. I saw herobrine on minecraft pe

  22. Steve_16pixel // August 2, 2013 at 11:54 am // Reply

    OMG I think I just saw Herobrine.

  23. Steve_16pixel // August 2, 2013 at 11:51 am // Reply

    I will buy a computer, iOS and Xbox 360 just to play Minecraft. That’s how much I love Minecraft. One question: is the pocket edition available on Kindle Fire?

    • yes it is

      • pocket edition is the full version. just giving you some advise. If you know it just egnore it. and one more thing. do you know how to craft? is it easy or hard?

      • MJthewolf // March 1, 2014 at 8:24 am //

        Fairly easy. Depends on the Console. If you are playing on the Pocket Edition, you won’t need any help. Totally easy. All other kinds though, you might need a little help. Still, It is worth the game. And if you play in Creative, there’s no need to craft. You have everything already!

    • how do you get it

      • Captain_YO // September 1, 2013 at 1:23 pm //

        App store.

      • caleb rock // October 21, 2013 at 7:08 pm //

        has a new person on mincraft

      • It depends on the console. If you’re playing on Pocket Edition you can get on the App Store or Google Play (Get the full version. It is way better than lite). If you get it on PC you have to get a Mojang account which costs around $20 but then the game is free.

  24. Minecraft has to be the best game ever made yet. Thanks Notch.

  25. MINECRAFT IS awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

  26. Minecrafter // July 22, 2013 at 11:47 am // Reply

    I found 30 diamonds when i did not even have my house built. I love this game!

  27. Charles Dickens // July 20, 2013 at 7:14 pm // Reply

    This is a cool game!

  28. minemaniac0305 // July 18, 2013 at 10:08 am // Reply

    So worth it! I play it every day. Me and my friends downgrade our accounts and search for herobrine!

  29. ascoutabout // June 19, 2013 at 1:02 pm // Reply

    its a cool game and very addicting.i made an entire city and its fun to play in.

  30. Gamerdude39 // June 19, 2013 at 12:10 pm // Reply

    Best Game On earth

  31. I love MINECRAFT

  32. minecraft is awesome I play it at my grandm’s house

  33. blackhunter22 // May 28, 2013 at 9:05 am // Reply

    i love to game

  34. CaptainOrangeJay // May 1, 2013 at 8:05 am // Reply

    I love it! BEST GAME EVER! I love starting new worlds and just letting everything out. My only problem is skeletons, they’re shots are too accurate! but still, great game everything. As evil as creepers are, they only destroy my landscape, not my house.

    • Skeletons shots aren’t accurate! They miss you a lot if you are far away. If you’re closer to them, they hit you more often unless you’re moving a lot.

  35. Once I had a hole SWARM of creepers after me

  36. Herobrine Hunter // April 15, 2013 at 3:51 pm // Reply

    I <3 Minecraft

  37. zack23048860 // March 26, 2013 at 11:18 am // Reply

    THIS GAME ROCKS!!! I play it every day and just love it!!! 🙂 If you don’t have it, GET IT!!

  38. I have the kindle fire version

  39. At first, I used to think this game was really pointless, but after my brother got me playing it, I liked it! I now have it on my XBOX 360 and my iPod Touch.

  40. I am going to get minecraft 1 week after the 1.5 update. Thats because I am awesome.

  41. I love minecraft i have about 1,ooo dimonds

  42. i play minecraft and this is cool.

  43. Best game ever i have four stacks of dimonds

  44. Durtle02(The minecrafter) // January 31, 2013 at 10:17 pm // Reply

    This game is awesome you guys should totaly try it i’ve had it since it came out May 19,2009. It’s developed a lot since then but it’s still really cool.

  45. Minecrafter 101 // January 24, 2013 at 3:53 pm // Reply

    The game is 26.95 us it the most awesome game ever the even have snapshots but a account is free you can buy the full version but mc classic is free the updates to it are as well

  46. Best game ever!

  47. rockinshooter08 // January 22, 2013 at 4:54 pm // Reply

    clueless if you want to know its free for account and $25.00. I play with friends on Multiplayer and its awesome!

  48. i’v played it at my friend’s house it’s realy mega awesome cool

  49. how much money does it cost?

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