It has now been over 10 years since the original Minecraft saw the light, making its debut on the PC market and amazing the whole world. The project received several denominations, updated along with the constantly evolving mechanics, which are regularly expanded despite the many past years. As we know, the developer Mojang was acquired by the division Xbox, and has therefore joined the Xbox Game Studios with the possibility of expanding his video game in many fronts. An innovative product due to its procedurality and its mysteries has transformed over time into a real brand, which is now joined to other genres. These are proposed together with the iconic details of the original work, just like the brand new one Minecraft Dungeons.
The new branded title Mojang Studios will make its debut very soon on PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, as well as in the subscription Xbox Game Pass for Xbox platforms. The work will be presented on 26 Maggio 2020, giving gamers a complete take on the pixel universe we're used to. This time we will in fact have to deal with a diametrically different gameplay, which although in some inspired by the original game, is proposed under the perspective of Diablo-like, also taking full advantage of the idea Dungeon crawler. Over the past few days we've had a chance to try Minecraft Dungeons thoroughly and we're here to tell you about it. Is it a simple commercial operation or a spin-off capable of showing its intrinsic qualities? Let's find out together in the next few lines!
Walking around Minecraft Dungeons
Departing from what was seen in the original title, Minecraft Dungeons takes the trouble to offer us a completely different narrative system, which, despite not being in-depth, still manages to make an excellent outline to the events. The gameplay story is fairly straightforward, as it sees the selected character initially fighting hordes of enemies to rescue villager in danger, or simply to carry on the main story. This can be completed in a matter of hours, but the total longevity can be truly amazing when you consider all the available content.
Minecraft Dungeons borrows the formula and features from the original chapter to evolve under a new genre.
In all this, the combat system of the original game is not to be expected, as from the premises Minecraft Dungeons takes the interesting gems of the Mojang masterpiece with the sole purpose of reformulating them. In fact, there is no shortage spade, axes e strings, as well as new weapons, but these are proposed with a new perspective, in the literal sense! In fact, the entire game takes place through the isometric view, with the camera not positioned at an extreme distance from the protagonist, but obviously offers completely different play opportunities.
The usual enemies that we liked in the original game are also present here, with unusual variations and hordes lurking to attack players, but the possibilities of approach present make the experience much deeper, and therefore allow the player to extricate himself in the most disparate situations to come out alive. Between dodges, arrows to be used at a distance and consumable items, it is possible to overcome any situation with the simple skill. Despite this, the experience aims to adapt through interesting variables capable of embarrassing even the most experienced users.
In constant evolution
Despite a short-lived campaign, procedural level design guarantees potentially endless fun.
Even if the game is extremely basic in the very early stages, it really takes a few hours to find yourself in trouble against the enemies, who bet on the number to fight the possibilities of the players. Artificial intelligence manages to do an excellent job for its part, given the continuous narrow spaces in which we find ourselves fighting. The entire level design is procedurally structured, which offers a series of constantly evolving and never predictable variables, which obviously add spice when you decide to repeat some scenarios at a greater difficulty.
In order to face the most difficult areas it is necessary to improve your equipment, through simple and intuitive systems, decidedly well thought out considering also that the total progress of the character depends on his tools. You can find items throughout the dungeons, or buy some random items in Base Camp between missions, but you also need to improve through enchantments what was found. By defeating the waves of monsters you can in fact get experience and level up, which guarantees each time spell points to spend on your equipment, able to provide unique and permanent bonuses. By dismantling the objects it is then possible to regain the points spent, in this way the tools can always remain the latest without risking false moves.
The game system of Minecraft Dungeons is within everyone's reach, thanks to well-thought-out simplifications in the development phase
In short, the playful system of experience really offers many opportunities and variables, which, although they cannot compete with the progenitors of the genre, give greater importance to the recreational sector and entertainment, which tends to vanish only after several hours of play. Ultimately, Minecraft Dungeons wants to adapt to all audiences, and that is why the developer has tried to make a genre that is sometimes rather difficult within everyone's reach, succeeding without itself and without but. The team is also already working on further updates, which it seems they won't be long before they land on the game.
Pixel for everyone
On the technical side, Minecraft Dungeons was extremely solid, never presenting bugs or smudges of any kind. All this is certainly favored by the pleasant and derivative graphic sector compared to the original work, even if it is decidedly evolved. The characters and scenarios are in fact much more detailed, although the pixel models are still present and wink at the Minecraft brand. The animations are a slight exception, which could be improved in some cases, but which nevertheless do not look bad with the rest in terms of general quality, and the possibility of never pausing games can be frustrating for some users.
The game controls are appreciable both with a mouse and keyboard, and by holding a controller. In the first case, the character moves with the help of the mouse, which could be uncomfortable for those unfamiliar with the genre, while the pads provide a more traditional experience within everyone's reach, but in both cases the controls are well structured. Experience also offers the possibility of have fun with other players locally or online, up to a maximum of 4 people, which makes dungeon adventures more enjoyable.
