Games
From Zelda to Final Fantasy, we look at the masterpieces rebuilt by gamers, block by block.
Mojang's insanely successful world-creation title Minecraft appeals to many different types of players. There are those who adore the uncompromising survival mode, while others are simply hooked by the giddying degree of freedom that is on offer. However, another subset of crafters see the game as an elaborate, block-based sandbox canvas where they can dream up the most amazing environments and worlds. Not convinced? Check out the following Minecraft-made recreations of some of the industry's most famous video games.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Nintendo's seminal N64 masterpiece is regarded by many as one of the finest video games ever made, so it's only fitting that it has also been reborn as one of the best Minecraft maps. Locations from the sprawling adventure have been lovingly remade in blocky fashion by the talented chaps over at Project Hyrule, and they've even redone the title's iconic opening sequence. If you've wandered Hyrule Field or attempted the Temple of Time in the past, this is the perfect way to see them from a different perspective. That Water Temple though...
Final Fantasy VII
Arguably Square Enix’s finest hour, Final Fantasy VII is an epic tale of love, loss and revenge set against a grim futuristic landscape which fuses magic and technology. The dust-choked city of Midgar is a place which will be familiar to many seasoned players, but you've never seen it quite like this. It took modder Killerx20 two years to lay every block and recreate every inch of this iconic settlement, and the results are breathtaking. Good thing there are no pesky Shinra presidents this time to pull the pillars out from underneath it like it was a game of Jenga.
Super Mario 64
Another Nintendo 64 classic, and another legendary Minecraft custom job. Every single stage from this groundbreaking and beloved 3D platformer has been reimagined by the team at MarioCraft – a truly amazing achievement which is a fitting tribute to the Italian plumber's most celebrated outing.
Bioshock Infinite
The stunning sky-city of Columbia is one of the most memorable settings for any modern video game, and contrasted perfectly with the submerged locales of Rapture, as seen in earlier Bioshock titles. Creating it in Minecraft must have presented some unique challenges, but Planet Minecraft user TheVoxelBox has done just that, fitting it out with ferris wheels, airships and familiar statues and landmarks. If you want proof how just how detailed a Minecraft mod can be, this is it.
Mass Effect
The Mass Effect trilogy has become one of gaming's most enduring franchises, bringing together alien races in an interstellar war which offers drama, romance and an intoxicating degree of player choice. It's fitting then that Mass Effect forms the basis of an official downloadable pack for the Xbox 360 version of Minecraft. No fewer than 36 character skins are included, along with 22 music tracks. Sadly, you can't get intimate with a goggle-eyed alien as you can in the proper Mass Effect series, but you can't have everything.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Mario's big rival in the 16-bit years may be on friendlier terms with Nintendo's mascot these days, but that doesn't mean that he can't go head-to-head in the world of Minecraft. Modder FVDisco has been working furiously at replicating locations such as the Green Hill Zone in nothing but blocks, and has employed a checkpoint system to recreate Sonic's main objective: running around as fast as possible.
Donkey Kong
Mario might have his own series of games to rampage through, but it was in Nintendo’s 1981 arcade game, Donkey Kong, that he made his initial debut, under the name of Jumpman. The game itself is a classic staple, which sees you hopping over barrels to try and rescue the damsel in distress from the titular DK, and now the arcade classic has been remade in all its glory in Minecraft. Geoff and Gavin from Achievement Hunter show off the fully playable game, created by AxialMatt - and it’s simply a masterpiece.
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