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If you’ve been around the web for a while, chances are you’ve at least seen the word Minecraft somewhere. But what is it? Minecraft is a game where you run around a giant, cubic world and build. In Minecraft, which costs €14.95 (approximately $20), you look for resources while evading things like zombies, giant spiders, arrow-shooting skeletons, and the horrible exploding creepers.
One of the greatest things about Minecraft is its horrible, amazing graphics. Although your first thought was probably something along the lines of, “I thought the nineties left already,” once you start playing Minecraft, you’ll get so absorbed you’ll start wondering why your computer isn’t a cube. In fact, Minecraft is so engrossing, you may find yourself trying to find more time in a day!
Anything goes
Surviving your first night entails finding some coal, chopping some trees, and building a shelter. Often times these things can be found or built near cliffs, which is one of the best places to make a house. Though there exists many hundreds of YouTube tutorials for surviving your first night, one of the shortest, best-produced is X’s:
One of the great parts about Minecraft is building things. If you can think of something to make, it can be built–from things like logos…
…to circuitry…
…to giant castles:
In Minecraft, you can build anything you set your mind to: even a giant castle, like mine above! Just be sure to build a house before the night comes… or bad things will happen.
Another favorite thing to do in Minecraft is to go spelunking, or cave exploring.
Image Credit: Minecraft Wiki
Inside caves, you’ll find horrible, evil beings. These range from the slow-moving zombies, who run towards you and attack, to the evil skeleton, who shoots you with arrows.
You’ve also got the evil creeper, who silently stalks you and then blows up behind your back, and the spider, whose long-range jumps will get you down in no time.
Another great way to play Minecraft is to play with friends: multiplayer. In multiplayer Minecraft, you can either build and explore with friends, or go against and raid your enemy.
Minecraft Classic: Build, Build, Build!
Another, older type of Minecraft exists: Minecraft Classic. Minecraft Classic is a free, less-developed version, and includes only the building aspect, not the resource collection and survival aspects. In Minecraft Classic, you are free to choose any building material and build whatever you want.
Image Credit: Nova225
Unfortunately, most don’t find Classic as much fun as the Survival Beta version.
Conclusion
Minecraft is one of the best games I have ever played. Ever. I’ve actually never really sat down and played a game for so long before, but somehow, Minecraft manages to wrap me in. It is worth its $20 in so many ways I can’t begin to count them: I love Minecraft, and though it is in beta, it is a really fun game for anyone.
Minecraft is still in beta and requires a fairly fast computer. Be sure to try out Classic to make sure your computer is fast enough.
Version Reviewed: Beta 1.4_01
Price: €14.95 (approximately $21.57)
Supported OS: Windows, Linux, OS X (requires Java)
