Terraria (PlayStation 4) Review

By Luna Eriksson 26.11.2014

Review for Terraria on PlayStation 4

There are two ways to look at Terraria; the first being viewing it as a Minecraft clone in 2D, and the second as an adventure game with building possibilities. The reality is a wonderful mix of both. To start off this review, the most fair thing to do is to punch a hole in the myth that Terraria is barely a 2D Minecraft clone. It isn't. It surely took inspiration from Minecraft, but it did not stop there, and that is what makes this game a wonderful and unique experience. After being suitably impressed by the PlayStation 3 version, Cubed3 now takes a look at Terraria's release on PlayStation 4.

When starting up Terraria the first thing any new player should do is start up the tutorial that the console version includes. The tutorial is a very welcomed addition to the game that prevents newcomers from wasting too much time fumbling in the dark about what to do, which was a minor annoyance in the PC original. In this tutorial, all the controls are learned and the first house is built, which will be really useful when the "real" game starts.

Screenshot for Terraria on PlayStation 4

When it does begin, the player is located in a randomly-generated world with their avatar, and is then free to explore. The first thing to do, however, is to make use of what was learned during the tutorial and build a shelter because night is coming, and it will be harsh on the unprotected heroes. The house building in Terraria is remarkably fun, and the game is quite generous with resources to build a house with, which is good, as many houses will be built.

Building houses serves other purposes than survival, as well. When a complete house with all necessities to live there has been built, an NPC will move into it. These NPCs ranges from everything from the starter guide that gives information, to merchants and arms dealers, and become unlocked as the game is played. This grants the wonderful ability to build town hubs, which is very fun if planning to create a personal own server, as it gives players easy access to the most important things.

Screenshot for Terraria on PlayStation 4

Despite all this, however, the strength of Terraria does not rest in its building, but in its adventuring and exploring. This is the point where Terraria simply outclasses its main rival in the genre, Minecraft. Terraria offers a vast, but not infinite, open world. In this open world there are bosses, and killing these bosses and triggering events will cause greater changes to the game world and gameplay as a whole. This makes for an ever-changing game, where individuals have to adapt to the new rules that take place at certain points. What works at the beginning might not work in the desert area, for example, and the enemies change a lot depending on where in the world the controlled avatar is.

The old school-feel in the 2D world and gameplay also strongly improves this exploration aspect and enhances the boss-killing progression, as it mixes up hard enemies with puzzle-like dungeons in a way few 3D games can handle well, really making this game feel like a fully-fledged adventure experience.

Beside bosses, different power-ups will be found while exploring the world. There is everything from the classic heart containers that offer permanent buffs to the hero, to new weapons and armours, which gives a very high incitement to keep on exploring to improve the character, and not only building the main hub.

Screenshot for Terraria on PlayStation 4

Something dearly missed in the original for the PC is found here in the console edition, as well: local multiplayer. It is a rare gem nowadays, indeed, in a gamer community forged around online play that offers hours upon hours of fun. Terraria really is a clear fit for the local multiplayer aspect, too. What is more fun than sitting with friends during a late Friday night, and cooperatively building an enormous fort in perfect collaboration, setting up a personal exploration team to search the depths of Terraria, only possible when sitting next to each other, staring at the same screen? Yep, nothing. This is where the game shines at its brightest and shows off its true potential. It also comes with PvP features for the more competitive minded circles of friends, and the ability to freely toggle this feature creates a mixed experience that make the gaming nights last longer than ever.

Overall, Terraria offers a good experience for different player types in a way few games can boast about. For the creative player, it offers a very good building system that allows users to create the most fantastic stages and structures to share with the world. For the social player, it delivers a great platform to meet up and have fun with friends. For the explorer, it provides deep and rewarding dungeons to find and explore, with scary and powerful bosses to conquer, and great loot to claim. Finally, for the competitors, a good PvP system exists, with the ability to create stages due to its building system. Who has not dreamt about having a battle against their friends in a big underground castle with lava tunnels just a trap away, ready to fill the room the enemy is in with boiling lava? Terraria offers a lot of content and everyone should find one aspect or another to enjoy within this multipurpose title.

Screenshot for Terraria on PlayStation 4

Cubed3 Rating

9/10
Rated 9 out of 10

Exceptional - Gold Award

Rated 9 out of 10

If players are seeking a big and deep adventure that is truly theirs and that they can share with their friends, then Terraria is the game for them. Terraria offers hours upon hours of content for gamers of any taste. Casual and hardcore, competitive and social; everyone will find something to enjoy. Few will, however, enjoy the whole package, but that is fine. This is a game where players themselves decide how it should be played. After the initial barrier of learning the game, a big world opens up and an unending adventure starts.

Developer

Re-Logic

Publisher

505 Games

Genre

2D Platformer

Players

1

C3 Score

Rated $score out of 10  9/10

Reader Score

Rated $score out of 10  0 (0 Votes)

European release date Out now   North America release date Out now   Japan release date Out now   Australian release date Out now   

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