Summary
- Minecraft now offers 9 new biome-specific wolf variants, with improved armor for better customization and protection.
- The long-awaited update has finally given players more options, but some feel it should have come sooner, as if it had, Mojang could have had the time to make wolves deeper mechanically. Additionally, the update would have felt more special instead of being overshadowed by wind charged and bogged skeletons.
- Despite the update being late and being released alongside other new features, the new wolf content is a welcome addition to the game.
Minecraft's wolves are getting a huge update; not only with new-and-improved wolf armor that offers better customization and protection, but with 9 new biome-specific wolf variants. However, there's a sour element that comes with this long-awaited addition to Minecraft.
A recent snapshot has finally given more variants to Minecraft's wolves. Now the classic gray wolf is joined by 8 different, biome-specific variants—similar to the way cats can already be found with different colors and fur patterns. All of these wolves act the same way as each other; each wolf can be tamed and all can be outfitted with wolf armor, which has received huge improvements since its original inception. Not only is it tougher, repairable, and can be dyed different colors, it now acts as a new health bar for the wolf rather than a form of damage reduction—absorbing damage until it breaks unless repaired.
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Minecraft's New Wolves Would Have Been Better In An Earlier Update
As great as all these updates to Minecraft players' best friends are, there's a cloud to this silver lining. The 9 different wolf variants are all adorable, but it's weird that it's taken this long to see them, especially when cats have gotten other variants since their inception. Wolves were added in March 2011, so it's taken over a decade for this feature to arrive. It might not be the biggest deal, but there are some issues with the update coming so late.
Wolf Variants Could Have Been Fleshed Out More If They Were Introduced Earlier
Minecraft has been suffering from feature creep for some time, adding more and more new systems whilst not developing what exists. Luckily, this wolf update is a step in the right direction, giving an old mob some new tricks. However, this could have gone further if pieced out in early updates. It's great to see a big update with loads of new wolf content on the horizon, but if momentum for it started some time ago, the mob could be in an even better place.
Wolves still fall just a bit behind other pets in some areas, with newer additions like axolotls and parrots seeming much livelier—not to mention how fleshed-out horses are by this point in Minecraft. They could possibly have done with more animations or even unique stats based on their biome type. It's good that wolves are far more viable as travel companions now, but it would be better if this ethos had been around for far longer. Most players likely get a pet dog and then leave it at home, fearing for its death. More fun with these pets could have been had throughout the years if the game had started developing the mob earlier on.
The Wolf Upgrade Is In A Crowded Update Sphere, But It's Better Late Than Never
Between Minecraft's upcoming 1.20.5 and 1.21 updates, the new wolf content is being introduced in a competitive atmosphere. The two updates have lots of exciting stuff that's already available in snapshot form, but the theming is very confused. With bogged skeletons, wind charges, and new wolves all coming in the same announcement, it'll be amazing if nothing falls through the cracks. It may have been a better idea to have a dedicated pet update in the vein of Minecraft's village, Nether, and cave updates.
Despite these problems, it's great to see wolf changes coming to Minecraft. More protection and customization for these furry friends will always be warmly welcomed. Moreover, the biome-specific aspect of the new variants is something that cats don't have, with all of their variants attached to villages. This makes the pack-collecting aspect more interesting and a fun challenge for anyone up to it.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 84%
WHERE TO PLAY
Minecraft is a game made up of blocks, creatures, and community. You can survive the night or build a work of art – the choice is all yours. But if the thought of exploring a vast new world all on your own feels overwhelming, then fear not!
Minecraft has no set goal and can be played however you’d like! This is why it’s sometimes called a “sandbox game” – there are lots of things for you to do, and lots of ways that you can play. If you like being creative, then you can use the blocks to build things from your imagination. If you’re feeling brave, you can explore the world and face daring challenges. Blocks can be broken, crafted, placed to reshape the landscape, or used to build fantastical creations.
Creatures can be battled or befriended, depending on how you play. The world of Minecraft allows for epic adventures, quiet meditations, and everything in between. You can even share your creations with other players, or play in community worlds!
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical or Horizontal
- Platform(s)
- 3DS, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Wii U, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
- How Long To Beat
- 129 Hours
- File Size Xbox Series
- 1.42 GB (August 2024)
- Metascore
- 93
