Minecraft Full Review: Story, Gameplay, Graphics & More
It’s hard to forget the very first time I played Minecraft on my computer. It was being advertised everywhere and, at first, I just could not see why people were going crazy about a game which looks like a bunch of blocks on a screen. I thought that I would spend twenty minutes with the game and then uninstall it.
Five hours later, I was still digging underground, searching for diamonds, while looking for my house because I forgot to place torches along the way.
The first lesson I learned from Minecraft was that this game doesn’t shock you with fancy graphics or action packed beginning – instead, it lures you into the game world, where each accomplishment will be truly yours.
Having spent hundreds of hours in Survival and Creative Mode on my own and with other players, I can tell you that Minecraft is one of those games which are always different.
What Is Minecraft?
Minecraft is a sandbox video game developed by Mojang Studios. It differs from conventional games by having no set story lines at all – Minecraft gives you total freedom.
The game depends on you.
Do you want to build a magnificent castle?
Sure.
Do you want to fight for survival from creatures, staying in a small wooden house?
There is also a possibility.
Do you want to wander through countless caves, seas, towns, temples, and dimensions?
Yes, Minecraft gives you that ability.
Game Information
Name of the game
Minecraft
Developer
Mojang Studios
Publisher
Xbox Game Studios
Genre
Sandbox, Survival, Adventure
Date of release
November 18, 2011
Available on
PC, Android, iOS, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
Game modes
Survival, Creative, Adventure
Story Review
One surprising thing for newcomers is that Minecraft does not impose any particular story on its players.
On the contrary, the story unfolds organically while playing.
First of all, at the beginning, there will be no one but yourself alone in the game.
No introductions.
No cutscenes.
No characters telling you how to proceed.
There is only you, the vast game world and your imagination.
Exploring the world, you will encounter abandoned mines, villages, broken portals, ocean monuments, woodland mansions and other structures that will raise questions about what has happened before you came into the game.
The main goal becomes fighting with the Ender Dragon in The End dimension.
Of course, it will take some time until you reach it, but during the journey, your personal story is being written.
Each world leaves different impressions.
Some worlds are remembered for creation of a beautiful city, and other worlds are famous because of survival of hundreds of in-game days.
Such an experience is unique to Minecraft.
Gameplay Review
Gameplay is the best part of Minecraft.
At the beginning, everything seems easy.
You punch the trees.
Gather wood.
Make the basic tools.
Construct a shelter.
But then night comes.
And it is when players understand that their home should be better constructed.
The first night is very memorable.
Zombies will knock at the door.
Skeletons will shoot arrows.
Creeper will silently go behind your back.
I remember being annoyed the first time my wooden house got exploded by a Creeper.
Afterwards, I understood that almost all players of Minecraft had the same experience.
Almost like a tradition.
Survival Mode
Survival Mode is the main feature of Minecraft.
You have to control:
Health.
Hunger.
Resources.
Weaponry.
Armor.
Farming.
Mining.
Exploration.
Everything you get becomes a reward.
Discovering your first diamonds is a wonderful feeling.
Creating enchanted gear gives you a real feeling of achievement.
Eventually, you are going to get powerful enough to explore dangerous areas such as Nether and The End.
Creative Mode
Creative Mode strips all survival constraints away.
There are unlimited blocks.
There are unlimited resources.
There is unlimited flight.
This game mode is ideal for those who love to build.
I have seen people create cities, famous buildings, stadiums, and even functional computers in Minecraft.
The creativity that exists within the community is incredible.
Multiplayer Mode
Minecraft is even more fun to play with your friends.
Cooperation definitely makes big projects way easier.
Some friends will collect resources.
Some friends will build houses.
A friend will definitely step up to fight monsters.
And a friend will definitely ruin the base somehow.
These funny mistakes make multiplayer fun.
Examples of popular multiplayer modes are:
Survival server
Skyblock
Bed Wars
Parkour maps
Roleplaying worlds
Mini-games
PvP matches
No matter which platform you use to play, multiplayer brings hundreds of hours of additional entertainment.
Graphics Review
To put it straight.
Minecraft does not look realistic.
Everything is constructed from cubes.
Firstly, the game may look rather old-fashioned.
However, after some time spent in the game, everything gets clearer.
Simplistic graphics let players concentrate on creation and building and not on realistic visuals.
There is also an option to use ray tracing, light effects and shading in the modern versions of Minecraft.
Installing different texture packs or shaders totally changes how the game looks.
I have played many different shader packs on my PC version, and the sun setting behind a lake turns out quite beautiful.
Minecraft shows how unnecessary the realistic graphics are for unforgettable experience.
Sound and Music
The soundtracks of Minecraft are probably the most relaxing ones I've ever encountered in games.
The majority of the game is quite silent.
You listen to the chirping of birds.
Flowing water.
Sounds of animals moving.
And then soft piano music starts playing.
Very calming.
This makes the exploration much more pleasant.
On the contrary, the entrance to a dark cave with creepy ambient sound immediately changes the atmosphere.
Building System
Building is the place where Minecraft becomes endless.
One can build:
Small houses
Castles
Modern cities
Underground bases
Huge farms
Coaster rides
Pixel arts
Redstone devices
Initially, I constructed rather simple square houses.
It was efficient.
Though it wasn't looking nice at all.
After watching many videos about building and experimenting with roof types, my houses became more interesting.
Minecraft teaches patience.
Each project gives you new knowledge.
Crafting System
Crafting is quite an easy thing but with great depth.
It all starts with primitive wooden tools.
Further, one gets access to:
Stone equipment
Iron tools
Gold items
Diamond tools
Netherite devices
Besides that, one crafts:
Furnaces
Enchanting tables
Brewing stations
Chests
Boats
Maps
Beds
Redstone components
Knowing recipes takes time, but there is a built-in guide for starters.
Exploration
One of the things that I love about Minecraft is its exploration feature.
The game comes up with different landscapes every time a new world is generated.
This includes:
Snow covered mountains
Great forests
Caves
Deserts
Jungle areas
Oceans
Swamps
Mushroom islands
There will always be something to discover regardless of how much you spend playing the game.
For years now, I have loved taking random directions just to see what lies ahead.
Performance
Minecraft is played on many platforms.
It is available for:
Windows PC
Mac
Linux
Android
iPhone
Xbox
PlayStation
Nintendo Switch
Java Edition has amazing mod support.
The Bedrock Edition gives better cross-platform multiplayer capabilities.
On weaker PCs, performance can be increased by lowering render distance and graphic settings.
Tips for Beginners
These pieces of advice will help you avoid many troubles if you are new to Minecraft.
1. Make a Shelter at Daytime
Do not spend the first days walking around a lot.
Collect wood as fast as possible and create a little shelter by the end of the day.
2. Always Have Some Food with You
Being stuck somewhere with no food left is very unpleasant.
Find ways to cook or plant crops.
3. Don’t Forget to Take Torches
Dungeons are tricky places.
Torches help you navigate in them without danger of hostile mobs spawning close to you.
4. Keep Your Valuable Possessions Safe
Put any diamonds, iron, or other valuable resources into chests before entering dangerous zones.
I promise you it is way better to lose some equipment instead of all of it.
5. Understand the Basic Concept of Farming
Everything is much easier when you learn how to grow wheat, carrots, or potatoes.
It saves a lot of time spent on hunting.
Common Errors Made by Beginners
I have almost committed every error imaginable by a beginner.
Here they are:
Mining straight down
Forgetting the direction back to home
Exploring caves with insufficient food
Wearing all valuable stuff at all times
Not upgrading armor
Fighting creepers head-on
Spending the first night outside
Not sleeping and struggling with monsters all the time
This list should help you avoid making the same errors I did.
Who Should Play Minecraft?
Minecraft is best suited for players that like to:
Build and design things
Explore open worlds
Survival gaming
Play with others
Create projects
Go on an adventure
Relax and play leisurely
For those that like constant excitement minute after minute, Minecraft will seem slow.
But for those who like to make their own adventure, it can be extremely rewarding.
Is Minecraft Worth Playing?
Certainly, Minecraft is a wonderful game worth your time. No matter whether you are an amateur or an experienced player, there will be many entertaining things for you to do in this game. Feel free to create anything that you can imagine, travel through large maps, battle with monsters or simply sit back and construct whatever you want. This game is continually updated, has multiplayer options for different platforms and has many users.
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