For both seasoned and beginning players, Minecraft has been a creative, easy-to-learn and mesmerizing video game for all audiences for the past 10 years.
Players of Minecraft can discover new maps to explore every time they play. (Graphic from Pixabay.com)Minecraft was created by a Swedish developer named Markus Persson, now known by the community as ‘Notch.’ It was released as a full game by Mojang, a video game development company, in 2011 and purchased by Microsoft in 2014.
As of November 2019, Minecraft has
sold 180 million copies across all platforms, and has 112 million monthly
active players, according to Business Insider Australia.
This makes Minecraft the best-selling video game of all time, ranking above both Tetris and Grand Theft Auto V.
The first thing a new player will notice about Minecraft is the graphics: everything is square. The simplistic graphics are comprised of blocks, which give the game a unique, cubical and 3-D look.
Minecraft graphics are retro, but in the politest way. Its old-school graphics create nostalgia for older video games one might have played as a child. But what Minecraft lacks in high-definition graphics, it makes up for it in its gameplay.
It is a sandbox game, which means it does not have the common linear story players would experience with most video games. Sandbox games allow users to do anything they desire without the constraints of a story line or levels.
Additionally, the worlds in Minecraft are procedurally generated. This means every map offers a new, different and unique place to explore.
Because Minecraft allows players choices about where they go and what they develop, its creativity is unchallenged. (Graphic from Pixabay.com)Both of these characteristics make
Minecraft a game with endless replay-ability, with new environments and the
choice to play however one wishes to.
Another notable gameplay feature is
Minecraft’s distinct background music. The soundtrack is a collection of
instrumental ambient pieces that always manage to compliment the game in an
unforgettable way.
Within the game, there are many
different aspects of the world to discover and explore.
The
terrain is littered with different biomes and other random features such as
oceans, rivers and caves that add to the expansive environment of the game.
Maybe players will stumble upon a
desert temple and have to avoid booby-traps in order to reach the hidden
treasure underneath. Structures such as these are what add another level of
excitement to the game.
There are two different gameplay
modes available in Minecraft; survival and creative, which makes the game
vastly desirable to different types of gamers.
Survival mode is the classic, more
challenging version of the game. The goal is to collect, craft and hunt in
order to build structures, to make tools and to ultimately survive.
A biome meadow in Minecraft offers new terrain for players as they explore the game’s environment. (Graphic from Pixabay.com)In creative mode, there is unlimited
access to every block, resources and tool available in the game. The player can
create anything their heart desires, hence the name.
Players have endless opportunities
to set their own goals and challenge themselves to complete those goals, which
is where the satisfaction from Minecraft comes from.
The great part about this game is the ability to create a unique and individual story. There is no rule book provided and no specific goals to accomplish; all can play how they want.
Build a secret underground base, construct a regal castle, or become a pig farmer. If you can think it- – and if you can collect the resources– you can do it in Minecraft.
The game makes it easy to
transition from solo to multiplayer with the touch of a button, which is
another plus. You can play alone as an escape or play with friends as a social
event.
Minecraft is available across many
different platforms and is reasonably priced, making it versatile and easy to
get. It is available on Minecraft.net for $19.99 for console (PlayStation and
Xbox), $26.95 for PC (Mac and Windows) and $6.99 for iPhone and Android mobile
devices.
Whether you prefer building, mining
or exploring, Minecraft is a game of endless possibilities and fun. It is a
game everyone should experience.
Rating: 5 out of 5