RLCraft

Pros

• Adds new challenges to Minecraft
• Gives players different tools and items
• Revamps the game's physics engine
• Generates new mobs

Cons

• Higher system requirements
• Daylight cycle sometimes locks up

RLCraft is a complete conversion mod for Minecraft. It adds new environments, items and weapons to the game that helps to completely renew the challenge for long-term players. Those who might not have quite as much experience will probably want to get some more practice time in before they try this sophisticated revision.

Apparently, the term RL was picked to mean real life because RLCraft is supposed to be more realistic than the original game. Unlike many Minecraft mods, RLCraft was made almost entirely by a single individual and that means that it follows his particular vision of what the game should have been like from the get-go. That makes it an interesting choice for long-time players. After all, there's a good chance that you've had many of the same gripes that the developer did and you'll be glad to see them finally worked out.

When you first install RLCraft, you'll find 120 different mods packed inside. The game is more realistic as far as physics go, since the engine has been revamped to match what you'll find in other titles. If you always thought that Minecraft felt a bit unusual, then this modpack should correct some of your complaints.

Ironically, the theming lends itself to even more of a fantasy environment than the original game's landscape did. The pack includes dragons, castles and entirely hand-crafted dungeons that are harder to explore than anything you're likely to have seen before. Since the mechanics of the original Minecraft are also modified by this utility, you're likely to look at it as more of a quasi-RPG title than anything else.

Take, for instnace, the various fortifications that you're given the option of exploring. Each of these is at a certain level, which resembles the progression that your character might go through if you were playing a popular MMORPG title. As your avatar gets stronger in RLCraft, you'll be free to go travel into fortifications with stronger monsters.

Keep in mind, however, that there's no reason to push things too hard. If you explore these castles too quickly, then your character will die. This game is much more challenging than the original Minecraft, and that's good news for anyone who might feel that they've experienced everything that the title has to offer. Depending on your perspective, you might never want to go back to the initial game again.

Crafting objects in RLCraft is also considerably more difficult, but it needs to be due to the fact that certain objects will help you get through some of these higher level dungeons more easily. You'll need to go on fairly lengthy quests to pick up all of the right materials to make certain weapons or tools, which helps to dramatically improve the game's replay value. If you were one to dedicate quite a bit of time to playing the original game, then you'll certainly love the crafting system.

That being said, those with less patience probably won't enjoy it quite as much. Crafting some objects can take hours, and you'll more than likely spread out certain quests over a period of days. While that might be great news for hardcore gamers, it's not something that more casual players will be likely to want to attempt. Those who appreciate complex open-world games that also give you certain objectives to complete will probably get the most out of RLCraft, since it's already like many of the titles they'd already be playing.

Considering that you'll need much more RAM to play RLCraft than the original game, some people might be kept away from it. That's unfortunate, though, because it's really an engrossing experience. While the original game could be played on machines with nothing but maybe 512MB of memory, you'll want at least 4GB to try this modpack.

Assuming that you can get past that limitation, however, you'll be in for a real treat. RLCraft is more than worth throwing some extra RAM into your machine for. In fact, the game's custom scripts are probably worth the installation alone.

A series of scripts were added to the vanilla behavior of each of the 120 mods included with RLCraft. These scripts act as a sort of digital glue that ensures all of them work fluidly in spite of the fact that many of them weren't actually designed to function alongside one another.

Perhaps the most impressive of these scripts include a custom temperature and heat system. You'll want to be more careful picking which biome you plan to set up shop in as a result. If you open up a business during the summer in a desert climate, then you're going to have to pay the price for it. You'll even find that certain biomes are completely inaccessible for you unless you have certain pieces of equipment. In some cases, you might even need to craft new objects to go exploring and that just adds to the fun.

Mobile enemies are more varied in RLCraft than they were originally. You'll find lycanite mobs as well as ice and fire dragons. Infernal mobs might be the most difficult to deal with, so you'll want to be alert as you travel through the many deadly traps that this mod has laid out for you. You might end up learning the location of a few of these, but there are some pretty evil roving traps that might make it difficult to negotiate some of the game's tougher dungeons.

Players might end up feeling like the deck has been stacked against them, but there's also a few new items that should help to see them through the day. Newer, more powerful potions can help you survive dungeons that you wouldn't have otherwise been able to. Certain items have to be unlocked when you reach a particular level. The same goes for some skills and abilities, so the game should get at least somewhat easier as you level up your character and walk away from your quests with devastating new weapons.

Gamers will need to have Minecraft Forge installed before they attempt to install RLCraft. Getting the mod up and running otherwise is a breeze and it normally just involves copying a few files between different locations. All of the real torture is going to be inside of the game's own dungeons, and that's where the fun lies.

Pros

• Adds new challenges to Minecraft
• Gives players different tools and items
• Revamps the game's physics engine
• Generates new mobs

Cons

• Higher system requirements
• Daylight cycle sometimes locks up