In case you missed it, Minecraft: Pocket Edition has just been released for Windows Phone 8.1. There are over 100 million people who already play this game, and now Windows Phone users can join the fun. It costs $6.99 without a trial, so some of you might be hesitant to give it a chance. We've installed it on our Lumia 1520, so watch our hands-on video before pressing that buy button.
I've got to admit, I haven't played Minecraft before. I've heard of it from other people, but never actually played until today. I expected to hate Minecraft: Pocket Edition, but I actually like it.
There are two game modes: Survival and Creative. In Creative mode, you already have all the tools and items. You can do whatever you want. Build your dream house and/or explore the world.
Survival Mode is a little different. You start in a random-generated map with nothing but your bare hands. I quickly learned that I could cut trees with my hand, which then I could use to create tools. That's when I got hooked. I created more tools and combined resources like rocks, coal, wool, and more to make several things that are basically ingredients to create more things. I quickly realized I'm actually having fun.
Minecraft: Pocket Edition feels snappy on the Lumia 1520. If you think your device might have difficulty with it, there are options available that you can turn on or off: Fancy Graphics, Beautiful Skies, and Animated Water. It's also worth noting that the virtual directional pad is way too small by default. Fortunately, you can make it bigger in the settings. This game supports multiplayer, but only via a local Wi-Fi network.
I didn't expect to like Mincecraft: Pocket Edition, but I'm enjoying it so far on Windows Phone. It also made me very interested in the desktop version. Will you be buying this game? Have you been playing with it already? Share your first impressions in the comments!
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