Terraria Review

by Brandon Sultana

March 14th, 2016

PC

 

Whenever I try to show people Terraria, the first thing people always respond with is “What’s so great about it, it’s just 2D Minecraft”. This is a statement that, while frustrating to see, is understandable, considering the similarities the two games show at the core level. The two core mechanics of both games are mining and crafting. However, while on the surface the games appear the same, anybody who has played them can tell you that they function VERY differently. What separates these two games is that they each focus on two very different aspects of a similar theme, being combat and creativity for Terraria and Minecraft, respectively. However, this is a review of Terraria, not an article comparing the two games, so I’ll stop talking about Minecraft and delve into what makes Terraria so amazing.

 

Gameplay

Terraria’s gameplay is incredibly addictive and fun. As stated, the core of the game revolves around mining and surviving. However, a big focus on this game comes in combat. There are thousands of different weapons at your disposal, from the simple bows, swords, and boomerangs, to bizarre guns made out of a sharks. That’s not to say the game is 100% about combat though, as you still have your basic mining, building, fishing, and general exploration that you can accomplish in the game. What I really love about this game is that it is very goal oriented, as there is always something to do next. Whenever you play there is always something for you to do next, whether it’s upgrading your gear, completing quests, or battling the next tough boss. A lot of the game is grinding, but mining for gear or farming enemies in Terraria is surprisingly fun, especially when you have friends to play with. One of the greatest and most fulfilling parts of the game is making the world bend to your will. While you start totally defenseless, with everything being a chore, by the end of the game, you can build grand towns, efficient farms, and quick modes of transportation. You’ll start of scrounging for materials, resources, and money, but quickly you’ll have chests overflowing with spare items! And finding or creating a better, stronger weapon feels incredibly rewarding. The feeling of growth Terraria gives you is seriously unmatched in any game I’ve played.

 

Presentation

The presentation in this game is incredible. While I make it no secret that 2D, Sprite based visuals have been done to death, Terraria does it very well. The game forges it’s own visual style, rather than blindly following the graphical style of the past. The game is an absolute joy to look at, with incredibly detailed sprite work across the board. Especially later on, some of the visuals are amazing. Just like the gameplay, the presentation has come a long way since its first release. Sprites are constantly getting refined, backgrounds have gotten more detailed, lighting effects have become more sophisticated, and the music list has increased dramatically. The level of detail on things like character and enemy sprites is awesome, and the huge amount of events makes the world feel alive. The music is generally solid, but as someone who adores video game music, I don’t find this game’s soundtrack to “wow” me. Whenever I play this game in long sessions, I tend to play my own music in the background.

 

Replayability

I’m not someone who replays games all too often, but Terraria is a massive exception. The game is incredibly replayable because of the huge variety the game boasts. There four different fleshed out classes to pick from (Melee, Ranger, Mage, and Summoner) that each bring something different to the table. Each of these classes come equipped with tons of different weapons, to provide variety within each class.

The random generation of the world also plays a big part in the replayability. There are some biomes and ores that appear only in certain world generations. With each world having different landscapes, no two playthroughs are ever the same. While the game is great being played solo, the experience really shines when played with friends. I’ve began countless playthroughs of this game with friends. Going mining or fighting big bosses while strategizing with friends has easily brought some of my most memorable multiplayer moments. Creating large towns and hoarding resources is simply better with more people, and playing with friends is so much easier now than it was back when the game came out. To add to all of this, the game is constantly being updated. The game’s scope has probably increased by a factor of 10 between when I started playing and now. Large updates are one of the biggest inspirations to start new playthroughs, and with achievements, various difficulties and more, the game is a steal for ten dollars.

 

Conclusion

Terraria is a stellar experience, that shouldn’t be turned up because of the similarities it may share with another game. It is an incredibly rich and deep experience with tons of replay value. I’ve logged somewhere in the range of 400 hours in this game ever since I got it, and I still don’t get tired of it. Anybody looking for a big, meaty game to play with or without friends should at the very least consider playing this game.

 

Excellent/10

• Huge variety

• Fantastic Visual design

• Endless Replayability

• Satisfying Progression System