Nintendo Switch – Minecraft #49

An Untouched Classic

I started playing Minecraft when I was 10, and I’ve got to admit that it was one of the best gaming experiences I have ever had in my entire life. However as time went by, Minecraft became less and less innovative, and its forte (online mini-games) suddenly became overlooked by games like Call of Duty and Battlefield. So when I heard that Minecraft was coming to Switch, I had mixed feelings. I wanted to visit its vast worlds again, but I had no clue if I would ever enjoy it as much as I did before.

After around 20 hours with the game, how does it stack up? Let’s find out!

Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition – Nintendo Switch – 5/11/17 – $29.99 (Currently Digital Only)

Minecraft: Short Review

It’s been forever since I last played, but coming back into it was a lot more fun than I thought. With the ability to play split screen locally, I found myself having a lot of fun introducing my sister to the extreme fun that is Minecraft on the Nintendo Switch.

This game is a pure classic, but that comes with one downside: It has the same features as it had years ago, except for some special features that were added due to Minecraft’s purchase by Microsoft.

Here is how Minecraft’s Icon looks:

Gameplay

At its core, Minecraft can be played in one of the two following ways: it can be a creative playground where players let their imagination build huge structures, or it can be a survival world where players fight for their lives against creepers and zombies.

I personally like the creative mode better, there is something rewarding about making massive buildings that just feels so much more rewarding than killing a bunch of creepers in my opinion.  Nevertheless, these two modes are what make Minecraft so iconic, and if neither sound appealing then this game is immediately not for you.

However if it sounds like any fun at all, Minecraft might be a game full of life and enjoyment just awaiting for you. If that’s the case for you, then keep reading because port quality is next!

How is it on Switch?

Minecraft has been on just about everything by now, from the PC, PS4 to even mobile devices so it wasn’t a surprise when it headed out to the Nintendo Switch.  Here it it specifically exciting because of the Switch’s docked and handheld capabilities.

On handheld the game runs perfectly, except for the fact that the draw distance is really short, but if that doesn’t bother you, then the controls and smoothness make the Switch version the definitive way to play Minecraft on the go.

When docked the resolution increases and so does the draw distance, making for an experience that is incredibly enjoyable to sit back and play for a couple of hours.

But beyond performance, the fact that this game allows for split screen is my most beloved feature. Not only does is still run perfectly, but playing Minecraft with my younger sister was a way to completely relive Minecraft. Playing co-op on PC has always been hard, requiring programs like Hamachi, so to be able to just connect an extra controller and play was truly a breeze.

Is Minecraft still fun?

If you haven’t played it before, Minecraft will catch your attention for many (many) hours, but if you have played it on PC and just want to get back into the game, this version is one of the best ways to do it.

With the added bonuses like its Mario pack, the smoothness and ability to play split screen, Minecraft on Switch is still incredibly fun even after 6 years since I first played it.

The online modes aren’t a highlight, in fact I haven’t played them much at all, but what is offered seems like enough to still keep the deployability in this title.

Conclusion

Minecraft is still really fun and surpassed my expectations, so even with a price that may seem rather steep ($30), playing with friends on the go is truly an enjoyable experience.

If you don’t have many friends to play this game with (or friends in general), Minecraft is still an enjoyable solo experience but the price may seem rather steep for those purposes, so I’d recommend Minecraft Pocket Edition. If the price ever goes down to around $20 or a physical edition is released, then I would consider the Nintendo Switch edition to be a competitive version when compared to the likes of the Pocket edition.

UPDATE: 5/30/18

I would give this game a 8 out of 10!

Trailer:

 

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