7.75/10
                                        Concept and character :
    A
clone of Minecraft that finally captures its charm. The Magic Hammer is a
semiclone of Minecraft for the 3ds. In it you play as a character you can
customize, which is similar to the making of skins in Minecraft. The story
begins with your character pulling the fabled Golden Hammer out of its resting
place. After being pulled, it is revealed the hammer can talk and has lost its
memories. Throughout the game you will discover more about the hammer's past.
Its  revelations are great to see explained, but are brought up spontaneously
with no build up what so ever.

Gameplay and exploration:
    Magic Hammer also captures the gameplay of Minecraft while
also creating its own experience. There are three modes the game provides: Story
mode, creative mode, and multiplayer. In story mode is a mixture of a first
person mode, like Minecraft, but also a third person mode. First person is used
for building and breaking blocks. Third person is used for combat. Combat, while
starting out simple, progresses to learning new battle skills and magic attacks.
It can however, be somewhat repetitive by the sense of it being mindless button
mashing. To find these battles, however, you must first explore Magic Hammer's
expansive overworld. While there is no denying that the game's world is big, it
lacks variety of location. All there is are villages, to buy items from its
inhabitants, and boneyards, where you first fight an onslaught of enemies and
then a boss. The bosses weakness' are all the same and easy to exploit. Despite
lack of locales, there is still a sense of wonder when you discover new location
s. Creative Mode is exactly like Minecraft's, except less supplies. Instead of a
variety of materials to build with, the Magic Hammer provides you with a
plethera of different colored wool. Multiplayer is playing with one other friend
in creative or story mode. This adds some replay ability to the game.  
     
Graphics:
    The look of the Magic Hammer is smooth while also having a glocky
art style to be similar yet different from the regular blocky look of Minecraft.

                                                        Sound:
    Orchestral
soundtracks are mostly fantastic and the Magic Hammer's soundtrack most
certainly follows suit. Its intense and epic during combat, but peaceful and
calming in building and exploration.
                                        
Conclusion:
    While The Magic Hammer is intended to be a clone of Minecraft,
it does enough to create its own experience. With great graphics, soundtrack,
and expansive over world it would be for everyone. Except, it has a spontaneous
story, repetitive gameplay, and lack of locales. But, it does capture a sense of
wonder and appeals to both intense and casual players.