People rave about Minecraft all the time. It is an addiction. Much like Sims or Animal Crossing or Second Life or any other game where you literally live another life in another tiny virtual universe, hours have been sucked away by this game. Keep in mind - these are all games that I have played myself and gotten bored with pretty quickly. Still, on a whim, I decided to download the pocket edition for my phone. No instructions. No walkthroughs. No discussions with friends or acquaintances on how to play or what the purpose is. Just dove in.
Dear readers, today I am going to try something a little different. A play through of Minecraft from a person who has never played before from the perspective of the character that you play.
Day 1
I find myself in a most unusual predicament. I awoke this morning in a strange land, surrounded by woodland for as far as the eye can see. Confusion is the easiest way to describe this sentiment. I am disoriented. I have no knowledge of this place. I have no memory of who I am, or how I came to be here. I have no worldly possessions, save a few items of clothing, including a pair of pants with rather deep pockets.
In an attempt to get a bearing on my surrounds, I explore little by little. I see no recognizable landmarks - no buildings or distinguishable features in the landscape. There are a few creatures here and there, cattle, sheep, pigs. They roam freely and do not bother me. I leave them alone for the time being, though quietly make mental note of them for when hunger strikes.
I spend most of the day exploring. There is not much here except some oak and birch trees. In an attempt to climb into the canopy to better see, I accidentally hit a thick branch a little too hard and find that it cracks with minimal force. In fact, by winding my arm like a frenzied windmill I am able to fell the tree in a number of blows. Fancying myself a carpenter for a moment, I lay out some of the logs in an attempt to build a wall, but the birch pieces just roll about rather uselessly. I pocket the lumber for later use, though it occurs to me that I have nothing to lash them together.
Daylight does not last long. I contemplate finding shelter, though my body does not feel the need to retire. Instead, I explore in the darkness. With some difficulty, I manage to scale a rather steep hill to survey, but see nothing of use. There is nothing be the wilderness around me, and I am very much alone.
Day 2
Early this morning, after getting caught in a maze-like hedge, I scraped away a hefty ditch and felled half a birch forest to make my escape, of course pocketing the logs that came with my newfound Chuck Norris-like fists. Waste not, want not. I still know not what I can possibly do with them without any tools, but I can't be concerned with that now. I still do not know how I have come to be here or for what purpose. I continue to explore the world for some hint, but enlightenment does not come.
A river leads me to a herd of sheep lazily grazing along a cliff face. Surprisingly, hunger has yet to set in, so I enjoy the company of the herd a bit before pressing on. I have found no other useful items. The only rocks in the vicinity become dust in my hand. I have seen no mountains, so cannot expect any ore. Even if I found it, I can't imagine what use it would be to me.
I take to the canopy, more gently this time. Once up here, it's remarkably supportive.
Night sets quickly once more, but I again I do not tire. It's hard to forage in the darkness, so I stay where I am. I contemplate building a sweet tree house up here, but again I have to wonder with what hardware.
Day 5
I cannot recognize any place I have been previously. It is impossible to navigate. The many near-identical faces of the land have me turned about. I fear moving, lest I lose the advantage of whatever area I am in. Not that any one location has yielded much yet. I swear the landscape changes with the sunrise and sunset, but then I think I am just growing delusional. I would say it was hunger or thirst, but after nearly a week, neither has set in yet.
Pain, however, is still a very real thing. This morning, while scaling a new(? perhaps not) hill, I misstepped and fell a great height. It's possible I may have sprained something, but by the evening, I was walking just fine once more. This land is strange, as is my new existence.
Day 9
I have seen it. The edge of the world.
I stared into the milky abyss and contemplated feeling flight, but a strong force kept me to the plane. In despair, I turned away and continued my search for meaning.
Day 16
There is something wrong. With this land, and with me.
In a fit of madness, I took to the river and sat at its bottom, waiting for the end. As I felt the air escape my lungs, a bittersweet sadness overtook me.
Darkness crept at the edge of my vision, my eyes growing ever murkier until...
I blink. The scent of grass fills my nostrils. No. No. NononononononoNONONONONO.
A survey reveals that I have returned to the forest where this all began. I know, because just off to the side, I can see the birch that I had prior laid out in too organized a fashion for it to be coincidence. As I stand, I feel that my pockets are remarkably light, and I realize that what paltry items I had stored are now all gone, possibly at the depths of a river I never want to revisit.
In rage, I slaughter a nearby pig, though to what end I do not know. I have no fire to cook the meat, and no stomach to eat it, so I store it along with my reclaimed birch.
Robbed of my only escape, I begin to wander aimlessly once more.
Day Flibberty-Gibbet
The sunrises and sunsets run together, and I am no longer aware of anything by my loneliness.
By accident, I tumble into a cavern deep below the forest. There is nothing around me but rock, much of it dug out. Perhaps an old abandoned mine? Perhaps I can harvest the rock here? I wail at it with my hands, and it chips away, but in no useful form. It is dark, and I have no torch, but this seems to bother me little. I decide to explore a little, having nothing else to do. Maybe I'll find an exit. Maybe I don't care.
I follow the labyrinth-like stone, and in the distance, I see a warm glow of light. I follow the source, but soon find that I am deceived by an underground lava pit.
In a foolish bout of curiosity, I go to examine some dark rocks by the edge, wondering if these will be of any use, but I come too close and fall into the lava. The heat is swift and unforgiving.
Seconds later, I feel cool grass beneath my feet once more, my pockets empty once more.
This is unbearable.
Day of Reckoning
While exploring an island off the coast of whereverwhositsville, I stumbled into another mine. Frantically, I clawed my way back to the surface. Never have I been so happy to see sunlight again. Or, I suppose whatever this feeling is, if I could call it anything akin to happiness. Deciding that I should do something close to practical, I decide to empty my pockets. In case I am forced to spontaneously respawn once more, at least I'll be able to retrieve my items.
But as I am laying out all my various findings, a strange moment of clarity washes over me. My hands move on their own, tearing down lumber and piece them together anew. Knowledge before unknown to me becomes second nature. Within a matter of minutes, I have fashioned an axe, a sword, and a pickaxe. They are not the strongest of tools, and are prone to break after prolonged use, but to me, the are priceless.
I am no longer primitive man, wailing for the gods' pity. I am Prometheus, and it is time to begin again.
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Actually, in all seriousness, while this is fairly fun, especially for a first go-around, I would not recommend this game for an iPhone platform. The screen is way too small, and you're prone to get stuck in spaces really easily.
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