Minecraft Legends

2023 video game

2023 video game

Minecraft Legends

Official cover art

Developer(s)|

* Mojang Studios
* Blackbird Interactive

Publisher(s)| Xbox Game Studios
Series| Minecraft
Platform(s)|

* Nintendo Switch
* PlayStation 4
* PlayStation 5
* Windows
* Xbox One
* Xbox Series X/S

Release| April 18, 2023
Genre(s)| Action, strategy
Mode(s)| Single-player, multiplayer

Minecraft Legends is a 2023 real-time action-strategy[1][2][3] video game developed by Mojang Studios and Blackbird Interactive and published by Xbox Game Studios. A spin-off of the 2011 sandbox game Minecraft, it was released on Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on April 18, 2023. The game would later cease development on January 10, 2024.[4]

The goal of the game is to defend the Overworld from an invasion of piglins, pig-like humanoid creatures from the Nether dimension, while the player gradually strengthens their structures and troops with resources harvested. The game received mixed reviews from critics, with its gameplay being both praised for its execution and criticized for its repetitive nature.

## Gameplay

[edit]

Minecraft Legends is set in the Minecraft Overworld, an earth-like dimension filled with various biomes and natural resources that is currently under attack from the piglin hordes from the Nether dimension. The Overworld contains friendly villages, hostile piglin outposts, and the Well of Fate (the player spawnpoint and fast-travel hub). Similarly to Minecraft, the Overworld is procedurally generated, resulting in a unique world for each playthrough of the game.[5]

Players collect resources to construct defenses, upgrade buildings, and summon troops. Players collect basic resources such as wood and stone by assigning friendly Allays to harvest them from deposits found in the Overworld. Other resources, such as redstone and lapis lazuli are used to build advanced structures and summon stronger troops but are locked behind Well of Fate upgrades. Prismarine, which is needed to construct some buildings, can only be collected by defeating piglin structures. The player can use resources they've collected to construct buildings and upgrade the Well of Fate. Defensive fortifications such as walls and turrets protect friendly villages and player outposts. Spawners summon friendly troops the players can recruit into their army. Offensive structures such as the redstone cannon, hurl explosive shells at targets from long range. Upgrading the Well of Fate unlocks more advanced buildings and troops.[5]

The primary goal of combat is to destroy piglin outposts and defend friendly villages from periodic piglin raids. Players use their summoned troops to assault and destroy piglin outposts. Players travel around the Overworld on their mount, from which they can issue various orders command their army on the battlefield. These commands include orders to rally, halt, and charge.[6] Players can also use their sword to attack enemies directly. Players build their army by constructing spawner buildings that summon troops or recruiting troops from camps found throughout the Overworld.[5]

Minecraft Legends incorporates the same Minecoins currency as Minecraft Bedrock Edition. This currency is used to purchase additional skins and mounts within the game.[7] The game is sold with an optional "Deluxe Skin Pack", which contains six additional in-game skins: one hero skin and five mount skins.

## Plot

[edit]

The game begins with the player mining in a cave when they are greeted by three beings: Action, Knowledge, and Foresight. These beings are called Hosts, caretakers of the Overworld. These three persuade the player to help them save their world, where a war has broken out between the Nether and the Overworld. The player is then transported to that world. After completing a tutorial, the player must save a few villages from being invaded by piglins from the Nether. Then, the player destroys three nether outposts that are preparing to invade villages. Subsequently, the player destroys nine Nether portals from three different world areas. In each of these three areas, the player has to defeat a piglin boss: "the Devourer," "the Beast," and "the Unbreakable". Once the player destroys all of the portals and defeats all of the bosses, the player fights the final boss: "the Great Hog."

Just as the player defeats the Great Hog, it makes a last attempt at destroying the Well of Fate. This backfires and his army is swallowed by a portal that sends them back to the Nether. Then, the Great Hog finally dies. After the battle, there is a grand celebration in the Overworld of their win over the piglins. Not all is well, however. The warrior villagers, who fought alongside the hero, resent the pacifistic villagers who did not, which causes a rift between the two groups. In addition to this, the Hosts have left the world to the Hero's responsibility and moved on.

## Development

[edit]

Minecraft Legends began development in 2018. The game was announced during the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase on June 12, 2022.[8] After the show, a trailer on the Minecraft YouTube channel confirmed additional platforms.[9] It is developed by series creators Mojang Studios in collaboration with Blackbird Interactive, a team founded by former Relic Entertainment employees, who are best known for developing the real-time strategy video game series Homeworld.[10]

After the success of Minecraft Dungeons,[11] another spinoff of Minecraft, Minecraft Legends was released on April 18, 2023.[12] It was made available to play on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5|4, Steam, Windows 11|10, PC Game Pass, Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Xbox Cloud Gaming.[13]

On January 10, 2024, Mojang announced that no more updates will be released for Minecraft Legends.[4]

## Reception

[edit]

Reception

Aggregate scoreAggregator| Score

|

Metacritic| (PC) 65/100[14]
(XSXS) 71/100[15]
Review scoresPublication| Score

|

Destructoid| 7/10[7]
Digital Trends| [16]
Game Informer| 7/10[17]
GameRevolution| 7/10[18]
GameSpot| 6/10[20]
GamesRadar+| [19]
IGN| 7/10[21]
NME| [22]
PC Gamer (US)| 50/100[23]
PCGamesN| 7/10[24]
PCMag| [25]
Shacknews| 8/10[26]
VG247| [27]
VideoGamer.com| 7/10[28]

Reception of the game was generally mixed. According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Minecraft Legends received "mixed or average" reviews.[14][15] Critics viewed the game as a solid addition to the Minecraft franchise but offered differing opinions on its execution. Destructoid writer Timothy Monbleau expressed newfound appreciation for both Minecraft and the strategy genre after playing the game,[7] while Sarah Thwaites of Game Informer described the game as feeling "caught between the expected complexity of strategy games and the franchise’s approachable brand."

Critics generally found the gameplay fun but repetitive and lacking in depth.[20][18][6] They praised the game for its Minecraft-themed art style,[5][18] resource gathering mechanics, and base-building gameplay.[7][20] Critics also liked the multiplayer co-op and PvP modes.[5][7][18] Some reviewers criticized the game's lack of strategic depth, poor AI,[7][20][29] and tedious gameplay.[25][18][23]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Boddy, Zachary; Brown, Matt (October 15, 2022). "Minecraft Legends coming spring 2023, gameplay debuts at Minecraft Live". Windows Central. Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
2. ^ Phillips, Tom (June 12, 2022). "Minecraft Legends is a new action strategy game spin-off". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
3. ^ Moon, Mariella (June 12, 2022). "'Minecraft Legends' is a new action-strategy game coming 2023". Engadget. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
4. ^ a b "Lost Legends: Snow vs Snouts". Minecraft.net. Retrieved January 10, 2024. "... we won't be releasing any new content (i.e. updates, Lost Legends, or Marketplace DLC) for Minecraft Legends ..."
5. ^ a b c d e Koreis, Justin (April 14, 2023). "Minecraft Legends Review". IGN. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
6. ^ a b West, Josh (April 14, 2023). "Minecraft Legends review: "Point, click, and hope for the best"". GamesRadar. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
7. ^ a b c d e f "Review: Minecraft Legends". Destructoid. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
8. ^ Carpenter, Nicole (June 12, 2022). "Minecraft gets a strategy spinoff, Minecraft Legends". Polygon. Archived from the original on June 12, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
9. ^ Minecraft Legends – Announce Trailer, Minecraft Channel, June 12, 2022, archived from the original on June 13, 2022, retrieved June 12, 2022
10. ^ Middler, Jordan (June 12, 2022). "Strategy game Minecraft Legends announced for release in 2023". Video Games Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
11. ^ Carpenter, Nicole (June 12, 2022). "Minecraft gets a strategy spinoff, Minecraft Legends". Polygon. Archived from the original on June 12, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
12. ^ Morton, Lauren (June 14, 2022). "Minecraft Legends: everything we know about the new strategy spinoff". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on June 14, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
13. ^ "Minecraft Legends Official Site". October 30, 2023.
14. ^ a b "Minecraft Legends for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
15. ^ a b "Minecraft Legends for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
16. ^ Franzese, Tomas (April 14, 2023). "Minecraft Legends review: Age of Empires meets Pikmin in this approachable strategy game". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
17. ^ Thwaites, Sarah (April 14, 2023). "Minecraft Legends Review - A Strategic Retreat". Game Informer. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
18. ^ a b c d e Gilbert, John (April 17, 2023). "Minecraft Legends Review". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
19. ^ West, Josh (April 14, 2023). "Minecraft Legends review: "Point, click, and hope for the best"". gamesradar. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
20. ^ a b c d "Minecraft Legends Reviews". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 15, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
21. ^ Koreis, Justin (April 14, 2023). "Minecraft Legends Review". IGN. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
22. ^ Allen, Jen (April 14, 2023). "'Minecraft Legends' review: charming if not always gripping". NME. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
23. ^ a b Morton, Lauren (April 14, 2023). "Minecraft Legends review". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
24. ^ Farrell, Andrew (April 14, 2023). "Minecraft Legends review – a bridge mostly far enough". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
25. ^ a b Cuevas, Zackery (April 26, 2023). "Minecraft Legends - A surprising miss for the legendary series". PCMag. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
26. ^ Erskine, Donovan (April 14, 2023). "Minecraft Legends review: War for the Overworld". Shacknews. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
27. ^ Donaldson, Alex (April 14, 2023). "Minecraft Legends review: a cute kid-friendly strategy adventure, but missing the series' magic". VG247. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
28. ^ Valantina, Marloes (April 14, 2023). "Minecraft Legends review – kid-friendly real-time strategy". VideoGamer.com. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
29. ^ West, Josh (April 14, 2023). "Minecraft Legends review: "Point, click, and hope for the best"". gamesradar. Retrieved November 1, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

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Parent company: Xbox Game Studios (Microsoft)
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