Minecraft: PS3 Review

Minecraft: PS3 Review

Platform: PS3
Released by Sony Computer Entertainment

I'm a Minecraft novice.

Yes, the pixelated rather basic graphic game passed me by - I was aware of its appeal, given the millions of units it had shifted, but the basic concept and gameplay had gone way over my head. I had friends who were addicted to it, and who couldn't explain their addiction.

But basically, having spent time with this, I now understand.

Minecraft sees you thrown into the world of randomness and given the chance to create whatever you want. In a nutshell, the game grows by giving you the chance to build blocks and things around you, or dig down for the chance to experience the world below and mine.

Put even more simply, you get out of it what you want - there's no story, there's no level by level aim, there's simply the option for you to play solo or with others. In survival mode, you learn quickly that you need to build a shelter at night and ensure your own survival as skeletons, creepers and zombies head your way, determined to hobble your survival chances. If you get through the night by using daylight wisely to chop down trees and dig dirt to craft together blocks, then the world is your oyster.

The first real challenge with Minecraft is working out exactly what you have to do - unlike the PC version, you're given the info you need to craft the items you need (in the PC Version of Minecraft, you have to guess what's needed for all the stuff you need) and it makes life easier and the chances of survival increase. It also means you can concentrate on what you're doing and plan a strategy.

There's also a creation mode as well, where you can indulge your building fantasies and your desires to create worlds around you. This works well if you go online with friends and all work together to make your dreams of architectural bliss a reality.

Graphically, Minecraft is nothing sensational - it's basic, but a solid port over of the PC version - and it's faithful to the original. The comparison that's been made is one of LEGO sets - you own the world around you and the building blocks are there for you to use.

The only limit with Minecraft is your imagination - and perhaps, the numbers of hours in the day.

Rating: