Some people spend time off work learning a language, whereas others...
Why do kids love Lego? It may well have something to do with the freedom it allows, in particular the freedom of creation. It presents a playing field in which the child is the master of their own universe and where the spoils of their labour come fast and easy. Minecraft cleverly utilises these aspects that made it's real-life, bricky counter-part so popular and creates an even more expansive building experience but is this recent, pixelated explosion worthy of its hype?
The more observant of us will have noticed that modern gaming appeals to the inner child. Look at the best sellers; thousands of fully grown men and women are lining up to play as spies, soldiers, cowboys and knights (at the best of times). All this made socially acceptable through the medium of tv and graphics. Let's be honest, how many successful games are mature by nature? Sure the dialogue and plots have become more sophisticated but in reality, the heart of gaming is childish. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. The industry has remained enthralling, there are no RPGs in which you control struggling housewives during the recession and even the more action-packed real events are omitted, who would want to confront the war in Afghanistan during their leisure hours anyway? Instead we have games like Minecraft, made popular because it is truly the first successful Lego-like gaming adaptation. You are once again a child, armed with building blocks and honestly speaking the experience is liberating.
Are those soil blocks in your pants or have you just seen a creeper?
Now the first thing that most will notice are the graphics. It has become an ongoing joke throughout Youtube to compare video quality to Minecraft graphics. What is so refreshing is that the game is not self-conscious of this, in fact it truly embraces the pixelation as an art form. You gradually stop noticing that your hands are square and the trees are Rubix cubes. In fact, the blocks are detailed just enough so that a coherent world can be realised. Despite yourself, you might even occasionally think "yes that mountain looks good" or perhaps, "these caves feel intimidating". It is in fact the atmosphere of the game that compensates for it's lack of graphic quality.
It is clear now the game has a strong following. Loyal players from all over have pledged themselves to these quadrilateral lands and this only spurs the adventure. You can browse for countless hours and find PvP arenas, mansions, castles, kingdoms, I was fortunate to stumble upon an oversized skatepark at one point. For this reason the game is unlimited in scope and just as with Littlebigplanet a fulfilling online experience. It is exciting to think, that after discovering an island and creating a home, passing travellers may visit or even, god forbid, invade your lands. This considered, the game is also enjoyed more, just as with Lego, shared with a friend. When two people work together, not only is it easier and faster but the experience is made social and more unpredictable. Despite many perceiving Minecraft as being an oversized lazyman's building programme, it is undoubtedly a legitimate multiplayer experience.
As you can see, the Aztecs took Minecraft very seriously
The gameplay itself is something else entirely. It wouldn't be unfair to brand it as a side-aspect to the creating mode. The weapons and armour are limited, the combat very simple and certain features i.e. the swimming leave much to be desired. That said, those who have gathered the courage to actually mine and to mine deep, will find a lot of joy in navigating through the murky and unpredictable depths of the world. It is in this feature the game is at it's best, the game worlds are more or less impossible to map. So vast are the different servers that even via minecart, you could be travelling for weeks to get from A-Z. For this reason, no one can resist the excitement in discovering your first island home, your first mountain cave or even your first netherworld (yes they exist, no don't ask) because it is something no one else has done. A novel gaming experience and that's not common anywhere. With the help of the evocative and strangely calming music, it can often be quite an emotional journey.
It's popular for a reason, because it's good. The game is as casual as you want it to be and the freedom here is unparalleled but Minecraft has been met with some gaping flaws. Despite latching onto a winner, the team have missed out on some crowd-pleasing howlers. Take for example the multiplayer feature. In order to create a server, players must go through a time-consuming, brain racking, off-browser coding gauntlet in order to simply build a randomly-generated world. No noob-friendly features here. In addition to this, something as simple as a realm-finding feature is not included. Instead you are sent to the forums or the server list, from which you must copy and paste an i.p. address. It is as complicated as it is to read. Moreover, usable items are limited and furniture in particular is sorely missing. You are welcome to attempt your own make-shift pieces but they'll make your living room look like a trash heap, or worse modern art, and the option to build a fridge or at least a table should be there from the start. Perhaps more of everything is needed to flesh out the game, there's only so many times you can kill a creeper and laugh, where are the hordes of critters or indeed where are the dragons?
All said, the game is ultimately a breathe of fresh air and a reminder that graphics, though pleasant to look at are in no way correlated with a fun gaming experience. If you haven't already, treat yourself to some perpendicular goodness.
8.3/10
