Albion HD Minecraft Texture Pack (64 x 64)
One of the more popular HD Minecraft texture packs, Albion is modeled after an old game of the same name. Having installed it and experimented with it for a time, I think this HD pack is best summarized as 'the High Definition texture pack you want to use if you're after a fantasy feel'. In other words, this isn't a photo realistic texture pack, but it is a very well done, high quality game texture pack. You won't feel as if you accidentally stepped into a FPS instead of Minecraft when you install Albion.
Sandstone textures rocked my world, as did the colored cloth. Let's start with the sandstone. As a relatively new block, this has gotten sort of a raw deal in a lot of texture packs, but in Albion it is crisp and tight and worthy of a massive sand fortress. In much the same way, attention has been paid to ensuring that colored cloth looks awesome. It has a vaguely paisley pattern, but to say that really does it no justice. I have taken the liberty of taking screenshots of my carpeted rooms that you might judge it for yourself.
I like the way wood has been handled, especially wooden planks, which have a nice finish. Wooden chests and crafting tables have also been reskinned to a very high standard. Brick has also been handled well, the designer has gone with earthy brown tones for the bricks, which makes them work well with other textures like wood and stone and whatnot. So often brick looks garishly out of place, brick in this texture pack actually makes sense.
Environmentally, the pack is fine. I like the grass, which is clean looking without being overly fake. I also like the lighter dirt texture. Aside from that, the pack is fairly so – so, which is actually okay because I find that having a more original look to many of the environmental textures keeps the game anchored in its original concepts. Having said that, I don't think you will be disappointed with the environmental textures, they have all had a good seeing to and the landscape is more beautiful than ever, with burnished red and orange trees in the appropriate locations.
I noticed that the animal mobs had not been reskinned at all (or at least, as far as I could tell) this also worked well and didn't really drag the pack down at all. I'd rather have an original cow than a creepy beady eyed cow like creature that looks as if it was stitched together from the hides of other cows.
