Fortnite - REVIEW | Online Multiplayer | Battle Royale | Creative Games | Reviews | Rack Nerve

 

It's strange to think that Fortnite was once a long-running game about defending makeshift bases from zombies. Back in 2017, the release of its standalone, free-to-play Battle Royale mode felt like a curiosity at best, an attempt to capitalise on a trend. Now, in 2019, the mode has surpassed many of its competitors, resulting in footballers performing game dances at the World Cup final and elderly sporting game merchandise.

When the mode's meteoric success is stripped away, and in an increasingly crowded space, is Fortnite still worth jumping into?

For newcomers, the basic setup of a Battle Royale title is as follows: one hundred players scavenge weapons and items to eliminate others and compete to be the last player standing. Fortnite doesn't stray far from this formula, with solo, duo, and squad-based modes available, but it's the execution of these fundamentals that stands out...

Fortnite Battle Royale: Chapter 2 update

Fortnite has been with us for two years, and because it is a 'game as a service,' we believe it is important to update our opinions on it.

If you haven't already noticed, a lot has changed since the start of Fortnite's 11th season. For starters, it's not called Season 11; instead, it's dubbed 'Fortnite Chapter 2,' and in many ways, it feels almost like a sequel.

At the end of Season 10, Fortnite's map was destroyed by a massive explosion and swallowed by a black hole, which was witnessed by millions of players worldwide. Those same millions waited days for any sign of life from Epic or the game's social accounts, and yet this period of inactivity only served to increase the hype levels - quite impressive for a game that's already the most popular in the world. It turns out that the only thing more talked about in gaming than not being able to play Fortnite is the game's inability to be played. How many games can dominate the conversation two years after their release?

Fortnite's new map will entice many lapsed players, but it remains a variation on a theme in our opinion. It retains the Dreamworks Animation aesthetic that has become so popular (which allows it to run on almost every platform), but the real draw here is the water.

Water, which was previously as deep as a puddle, has been completely redesigned in Fortnite Chapter 2. For one thing, you can't just waltz through it as if it didn't exist. Players can swim through the water, avoiding the use of weapons but potentially allowing for a sneaky escape, or use boats to get around. These feel much more natural to play with or against than the previously added planes and mechs, and they have the potential to entice many players who were disappointed with those additions.

There's even fishing now, and while we have some serious concerns about the new map's ecological state (being able to pull a shotgun or assault rifle from the bottom of a lake raises all sorts of recycling questions), it can be a nice bonus when all you really wanted was a fish to eat for health.

There's more to the map than just the water, and on land, players can now jump into dumpsters and haystacks to surprise passing opponents. Perhaps more excitingly, you can now use environmental hazards such as exploding gas stations to inflict significant damage on enemies.

Fortnite has always been at its best when it revels in its own slapstick sensibilities, and Chapter 2 does not disappoint. Aside from the aforementioned hiding spots, a 'bandage bazooka' allows for long-range healing, and the ability to carry comrades out of the line of fire is a nice new addition - help them up, and perhaps they'll join you for a group high five (yes, there are group emotes now).

The changes to the game's Battle Pass system, however, are our favourite additions to Fortnite Chapter 2. Previously, you could go an entire match without completing one of the season's arbitrary challenges and thus feel under-rewarded for your time, but now the game offers seasonal XP and medals to help level you up simply by playing the game. The challenges remain, but those looking to simply play a match without having to "loot 10 chests" or something similar will find their time invested more respected.

To summarise, Fortnite Chapter 2 breathes new life into a game built on reinventing itself. It's transitioned from a gaming phenomenon to a mainstream phenomenon, and it feels like you're witnessing history - only with more XP now.

Fortnite Battle Royale: one year on

Fortnite, like any other ever-changing 'live service' game, is constantly changing. What began as another battle royale (albeit with building mechanics) has evolved into a global phenomenon that is currently in its ninth season. With that in mind, we're re-evaluating Fortnite in order to provide a more current perspective on the free-to-play juggernaut.

As we stated in our original review, Fortnite is not only an excellent product, but it also rewards players regardless of financial investment. Someone who just wants to play a few matches with their friends will have just as much fun as someone who is working their way through the oft-imitated Battle Pass. All of this holds true for Season 9, which begins with the Gundam-esque Sentinel skin and the similarly upgradeable Rox outfit - and only gets more generous from there.

Earn everything on offer, and you'll have enough V-Bucks to buy your next battle pass, as well as a plethora of skins, decals, emotes, and more.

Fortbytes, a new collectible that requires a little more effort, are a big part of this new battle pass. Each one is numbered, and some can be obtained by completing battle pass challenges or gaining a certain amount of XP, while others can be found on the map if the player is wearing the required Battle Pass outfit. This contributes to Fortnite's fervent community, which regularly collaborates to solve mysteries - not bad for a player-versus-player title.

Of course, the map is a big part of these battle royale games, and Season 9 brings a slew of changes to the bright and colourful game world. Tilted Towers has evolved into Neo Tilted, a futuristic cityscape complete with a new digital clocktower and flying blimps. Loot Lake's neighbouring buildings are also more modern, and large windmills can be found dotted throughout Pleasant Park. The most noticeable change is that of Retail Row, which was destroyed by Season 8's Volcano but has since been rebuilt as a multi-level shopping mall ideal for ambushes and material harvesting.

This is on top of new weapons that are constantly shifting and being rebalanced, as well as wind tunnels for quick traversal and new Limited Time Modes that rotate on a regular basis, ensuring that there is always a reason to return.

Overall, there's more than enough content to entice those looking to complete new Battle Pass challenges, but changes to Fortnite's map and meta make it a great place to compete with friends, especially since it continues to pave the way for cross-play and cross-progression. Even as other titles attempt to offer comparable services, being able to grind Battle Pass challenges on Switch or Mobile before returning to your console or PC to collect rewards feels incredibly forward-thinking.

Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows

In comparison to its more reserved contemporaries, such as Blackout or PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, Fortnite has its own distinct identity. Both the characters and the map are vibrantly coloured, belying their tactical depth. Whether you're playing on a PC, a Nintendo Switch, or a mobile device, the game not only looks great but also plays well - perhaps not surprising given Epic's creation of the Unreal Engine (a suite of tools for game developers).

The lack of blood and gore makes it more kid-friendly than other shooters, and it's all wrapped up in a Dreamworks-esque shell. Fortnite feels like a Saturday morning cartoon, whether you're jumping out of the Party Bus to start a match or picking up items like a launchpad to send you flying through the air.

This personality pervades the map itself, which is a mishmash of landscapes ranging from the urban skyscrapers of Tilted Towers to the oasis-like Paradise Palms. Treasure chests are strewn about, each containing something useful, and Fortnite's use of a more diverse colour palette than shades of green and brown can help you distinguish an opponent from a distance.

While Fortnite battles are still limited to a single map, variety comes in the form of seasonal updates and transformations that apply to all players. While one season resulted in an ice age, another resulted in the development of flyable aircraft.

These changes mean that the meta is constantly changing, which may irritate competitive players, but it keeps millions of people checking in to see what has changed. In fact, the shooting was recently paused so that players could enjoy an in-game concert by current superstar DJ Marshmello.

Last person standing

Of course, since this is a Battle Royale, you won't have much time to admire the scenery. Thankfully, even after almost two years, Fortnite's combat still feels surprisingly fresh, thanks to two factors.

The first is the game's one-of-a-kind building mechanic, a holdover from the game's Save The World mode. Players can build rudimentary structures with an intuitive grid-based building system by harvesting materials like brick or wood with their trusty pickaxe. If you're out in the open, you might try to build a wall to hide behind, whereas descending sheer cliff faces is much easier if you can build a ramp or a series of steps.

Building has long been a big part of Fortnite's difficulty curve, and it's not uncommon to see the last ten combatants squabbling around a snaking series of ramps reaching into the heavens. Fortnite has a high skill ceiling due to the need to manage both building and shooting in increasingly confined spaces, though it is entirely possible to brute force your way to a Victory Royale (something we're certainly guilty of). Epic's addition of a Creative Mode even allows players to create their own maps and custom game modes, extending Fortnite's lifespan even further.

The shooting mechanics themselves are a second important component of Fortnite's satisfying combat loop. While it may seem strange to compare a third-person, cartoony battle royale to the developer's earlier work on Unreal Tournament, Fortnite's mobile, often strafe-heavy, and "loose" shooting feels like it carries on the DNA of that series.

Weapons, for the most part, conform to standard archetypes of shotguns, sniper rifles, and the like, but thanks to Epic's commitment to shaking up the game on a regular basis, we've seen weapons like a Boogie Bomb, which causes enemies to dance, as well as remote-controlled missiles. Fortnite is at its best when it revels in its own absurdity.

Price of a royale

Reviewing a free-to-play title is an odd concept, because in the case of Fortnite, it is possible to spend dozens of hours within its world without paying a single penny. The game's ubiquity across platforms, as well as the fact that it is free, contribute to its appeal.

While many would question the long-term viability of a title based entirely on micro-transactions, Fortnite's paid items are purely cosmetic and frequently as zany as one would expect from a title with such a colourful aesthetic. Character skins, dance moves, and new pickaxe designs are available, but the Battle Pass is Fortnite's most valuable financial asset.

The Fortnite Battle Pass, which costs $9.99, provides a steady stream of cosmetics that can be earned by simply playing the game and completing weekly challenges. These challenges are frequently used to bring the community together to solve puzzles. Completing one Battle Pass earns enough currency to purchase the next one, and players who do not purchase a Battle Pass will face their own set of challenges.

Walls have fallen

It's now easier than ever to get your Fortnite fix on the go. With Sony finally agreeing to allow cross-play between PlayStation 4 and previously walled-off versions of the game on other platforms, it's now entirely possible to play with your friends across multiple consoles.

For many, the addition of cross-progression is just as important. If you buy the Battle Pass on Xbox One, for example, the same challenges will be available to complete on your Nintendo Switch - ideal for ticking off your rewards while on the go. It's not just the Battle Pass; all of your purchases and currency are available on all of your devices.

Verdict

There's a reason why Fornite is arguably the most popular game of the last decade. Its influence can be felt throughout pop culture as a whole because it balances accessibility with the competitive spirit that many people enjoy.

Underneath all of the dances, skins, and Battle Pass, Fortnite Battle Royale is an excellently designed, ever-changing platform of a game that respects a player's time regardless of whether they choose to spend money or not. There's enough of a learning curve to keep us coming back, but it's also a fun place to play a quick game with a friend. It is truly a modern marvel.