Terraria

“Re-Logic's wonderful side-scroller Terraria comes to consoles with superb gamepad controls and streamlined multiplayer integration.”

Though on the surface it looks like just another "me too" indie game seeking to ride the coattails of Minecraft's success, Terraria expands on the familiar sandbox gameplay with a greater emphasis on combat and adventure that proves very satisfying. Fresh elements – like an absurdly expansive weapon crafting system, a broader scope of monsters to battle, and a slick retro 2D presentation – make it a stand out among the pack. Hell, it took all the resolve I could muster just to shut the game down long enough to write this review. That's rare indeed.

Being a 2D game, its graphics are quite simple but the simplicity does give way to massive environments that are fully explorable. These lands contain all sorts of surprises, even huge monsters that aren’t worth your time until you actually have some decent equipment. As such it’s recommended that you make a home for yourself. By doing so you’re able to create a bit of defense against creatures, and you can begin using your new home as a sort of Terraria HQ. Besides the added bonus of defense, your home also helps attract NPCs. These NPCs can offer goods that you’ll likely want to purchase, an...

Overall, Terraria is a great game that is only sometimes held back by its lack of guidance. Unfortunately the very thing that makes the game awesome is also what makes it quite often frustrating. It’s a hard balance to strike, and Terraria almost nails it, but just a little more guidance would be nice to keep you feeling like you’re constantly making good progress, rather than just going round in circles. Still, that’s why we have the wonder of the Google search, so it doesn’t hold us back too much. We still heartily recommend this game, and without a doubt, plenty more hours are going to be l...

Lessaria a confident, solid, and respectful successor, perfect for a leisurely immersion. Rockbee Team studio's debut can be considered a success - they took a responsible approach to a complex genre and created a game that, despite all the minor rough edges, is capable of giving dozens of hours of fun, nostalgic and tactically rich experience.

Terraria is a strange title. Its 2D world suggests simple fun when compared to the gritty realism that most games portray, while its quirky styling and audio lead to an often comedic atmosphere. Don’t be fooled by the aesthetics, though – this is a release that demands your time and effort if you want to get the most out of it.

If there is one drawback to Terraria, it is just how little the game prepares players for what lies in store. The tutorial passes on the first tips for mining and crafting, but without any indication that the game is structured more predictably than the first hours might imply, plenty of fans may put down this game before it even gets out of the starting blocks. The ability to host split-screen co-op alleviates those tensions with advice from friends more familiar with the title, but the early hours of the game are more difficult and less welcoming than they could have been.

Terraria is a fantastic game of exploration and survival. You can occasionally feel lost in its open-world that lacks any real signposting, but the simple joy of digging and crafting means you’ll keep playing to discover the naturally-occurring progress. The new version is in no-way half-assed, and it sits on the platform as if it was crafted for it from the very beginning. Terraria was a great PC game, and now it’s a great Xbox 360 game as well.