arts // no. 8

‘Minecraft’ sequel lacks action and building experience

» ‘Minecraft: Story Mode’ video game review

Lauren Paulsen Senior Columnist

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hen Markus Persson

guessed it would turn out to be such a popular game. An entire community has come together to enjoy this game, entire lines of merchandise have been made, and now a new spin-off game has been created.

Minecraft: Story Mode is a new episodic game created by Telltale Games in collaboration with Mojang, Perrson’s game development company. The

Jesse, who sets out on an adventure with his or her friends to find the Order of the Stone so that they can save their world.

| honestly don’t know how I feel about this game. It was not at all what I was expecting when I purchased it. Gameplay

Telltale Games’ releases, where

you mostly just choose things : to say. Each choice changes

: how the story will proceed, : and ultimately end. Combat is

: similar in that you click when an :

: enemy approaches you to swing

created the sandbox video ; your sword, but you can only Mi ft, h Idn’t hav : move in limited directions—not Bame muaTrecrayy ne Cow © : at all like the combat I am used

: to from Minecraft.

The game is honestly like

: watching a movie where you

: make decisions about what

: Jesse will say. There is so much : dialogue that I don’t really feel : like lam playing a video game. : Even though it is set in the

: Minecraft world, it doesn’t feel : much like Minecraft at all.

: I think that this game would : : be good for those who want to: story focuses on a new character, : sit back and relax for a while : and unwind. I don’t think that

: people who want the action-

: like survival of Minecraft or the : lovely building experience would : : enjoy this. I’m going to keep an

: open mind and continue playing : the game to see where it leads,

is point-and-click type like other this patne clone the lines cf oe : original Minecraft.

If you want a game that feels :

like Minecraft, then don’t get : this one. If you want to sit back

and basically watch a movie that : you control, then go ahead and : get it. If you’re curious about it,

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: you can just invest in the first : episode (out of five) for $5.

A cappella group rockets to stardom without losing integrity

» ‘Pentatonix’ album review

Aaron Guillen Staff Reoorter

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Porte s distinct a cappella sound has gained the group over one-billion YouTube views, the highest charting Christmas album by a group since 1962 (1.1 million sold, according to Nielsen Music), appearances on Ellen, Conan, and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and a Grammy win for their Daft Punk medley. Finally, the highly anticipated self-titled album, Pentatonix, has been released with completely original songs and a strong fan base supporting them.

“Na Na Na” starts the album with a burst of energy. With a bright array of claps, stomps, and chants, it is reminiscent of a victory cheer played after a game. There’s no mistaking this track for any similar song since the chorus is the repetition of the song’s title.

“Can't Sleep Love,” the first

: : single off the album, infuses

: jazz, synth, R&B, and pop

: together. Similar to a Justin

: Timberlake song, the track

: floats on a strong tenor backed

: up by snaps, hums, and a vibe- : saturated hook.

“Sing,” the second single off

: the album, sells the hype factor. : Seemingly a continuation of

: “Na Na Na,” this track takes a

: new breath with stomps and a

: catchy rap. The strong points of : this fast-paced track have the

: potential to propel into radio

: sometime soon.

“Misbehavin” introduces

: the energy of a choir. It starts

: off with a homegrown a cappella : sound, but soon blossoms

: into powerful chords that any

: listener would crave. Don’t judge : a book by its cover for this one— : it’s sure to pleasantly surprise.

“Ref” makes a seamless

: transition from the light, pop- : Infused songstoadarkertone — } : that allows the bass and beatbox ! : to shine. With a reinforced

: referee whistle between verses, : this track captures the essence : of an argument that needs to

: come to a solution. Backed by : strong riffs, this song changes : the definition ofa cappella.

“First Things First”

: continues the vibe and mellow : sounds of a stripped Disclosure : song. With a twisted chorus

: including spoken words and

: “la la la’s, this track resonates

: mellow, familiar tones.

“Rose Gold” and “If I Ever

: Fall in Love,” featuring Jason : Derulo, bring vulnerability to : the forefront. As a love story

: gone bad, these songs remind us: : of the mistakes of the past. With : : both songs reaching falsetto

: tones, they breaks the mould of : a traditional melody.

“Cracked” and “Water”

: express frustration and anger.

: These tracks show the brutal

: reality of longing for someone.

: With wails, clapping, and

: chanting, both songs build up

: to the final stretch of the album : perfectly.

“Take Me Home,” “New

: Year’s Day,” and “Light in the

: Hallway” bring the album toa : resounding end with stretched : melodies and beats that fulfill

: and exceed the expectations

: set by an a cappella album.

: Any of these songs remind us : of emotional times that would replay in slow motion as you

: dwell on these final tracks.

Overall, the first all-original

: album by Pentatonix sets the

: group up for a bright future

: without losing any ounce of

: personality and integrity from : previous work.