The current Crucible of Destiny 2 does not excite our author Robert. He finds the right fun factor in the battle royale mode of Fortnite!
Since September 26, 2017, you can test the new battle royale mode in Fortnite – and it’s completely free. Fortnite is available on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Mac.
Right off the bat, the most important information: This is not a direct comparison between Destiny 2 and Fortnite itself, as the games are fundamentally different. It’s mainly about the fun factor in the competitive multiplayer mode. And currently, Fortnite Battle Royale captivates me much more than the Crucible of Destiny 2.
I admit, Destiny 2 disappointed me in the endgame. Specifically, the grind for the best weapons kept me hunting enemies day in and day out in Destiny 1. Even in the Crucible, I enjoyed staying there despite (or because of) the lack of balance. Kills with the No Land Beyond gave me incredible satisfaction.
Taking out multiple opponents with super attacks was one of the best moments in Destiny 1 for me. And I miss those moments in Destiny 2. The PvP is significantly more static and team-oriented. That’s a matter of taste, but it doesn’t suit my taste.
Clan discussions revolved around Warframe and Fortnite
Even in our clan, the disappointment was great. In search of alternatives, some (including myself) ended up with Warframe, as it shares some parallels with Destiny and offers the complexity and grind that we painfully miss in Destiny 2.
The call “You all need to play much more Fortnite!” from a clan mate elicited subdued reactions: “This comic-style graphics?”, “You have to build stuff, meh.” I admit I was skeptical as well.
Now the battle royale mode of Fortnite is free, so there’s no reason not to try it at least. And after a few hours, I can say: It’s really fun!
From 100 to 1 – the battle royale mode of Fortnite
What is this mode even about? 100 players gather on a map and must shoot each other. The last one standing wins! You start each round with only a pickaxe and must find weapons and all sorts of useful stuff throughout the match to prevail against your opponents.
Additionally, you can smash almost everything the map offers with the pickaxe. This gives you resources that you can use to build walls, stairs, and traps.
Where you start on the map is up to you. A party bus flies over the map with fitting music. You can choose where to jump off. You can use the following free fall to aim for the exact spot where you want to go loot hunting.
Throughout the map, there are strategically important points that provide the most loot. But here, too, the danger is greatest of encountering other players who had the same brilliant plan as you.
In each round, the area you are free to move in is increasingly restricted. A storm is brewing, and if you are in it, you take damage. This mechanic ensures that
- you must keep moving to avoid being surprised by the storm,
- the available section of the map keeps getting smaller, leading the game to an end sooner or later.
For those who do not want to face the 99 opponents alone, there is not only the solo mode but also the duo mode where you can team up with a partner. Even a squad of four is possible!
Simple concept for maximum fun!
The gameplay of the battle royale mode is remarkably simple. Land on the map, grab some weapons, and make sure you are always in the safe area of the map where the storm can’t harm you.
I was surprised at how complex tactics one can pursue despite the simple gameplay principle. There is no radar that warns you of approaching enemies, you are completely reliant on your hearing and eyesight.
This allows for all sorts of tactical tricks:
- you can flank and distract opponents
- you can hide and wait for an unsuspecting player
- you can wait at the edge of the storm for fleeing opponents and take them out
But that’s not all: You can leave bait from unwanted equipment behind. The first player who rejoices over their loot luck and inspects the treasures will be ruthlessly shot from the ambush. Great fun.
To access loot chests, you often have to open doors. Anyone who closes them again after entering suggests to an approaching enemy that there’s still something to get behind it. The perfect trap!
As the game nears its end, and the available section of the map gets smaller, you can build a fort with your resources (preferably in elevated places) to protect yourself from the last enemies.
A cautious and careful playstyle is rewarded. In theory, you only need to defeat one opponent to win the entire round. The game leaves it up to you whether you want to stomp through the map like a lumberjack or move carefully from hiding place to hiding place.
Conclusion / Summary
To get right to the point: Fortnite does not offer the outstanding gunplay of Destiny 2. Specifically, sniper rifles feel a bit weird, as Fortnite’s weapon projectiles do not operate on the hit-scan principle (pulling the trigger and hitting happen simultaneously) but have to fly to the target first (analogous to fusion rifles in Destiny 2).
However, the fun of the game easily compensates for this shortcoming. The matchmaking is outstanding. You only have to wait about two minutes until 100 players are found and you can jump into battle. If you get quickly knocked out in a round, you can just start a new game. This happens almost seamlessly and motivates you to play round after round.
The simple gameplay principle has convinced me due to the many tactical nuances. If you want to try out the game mode, you can download Fortnite for free on PC, Playstation 4, Xbox One, and Mac. Have fun! Maybe we will meet in a pickaxe duel on a lonely rooftop in Tomato Town!
Have you tried the battle royale mode yet? Have you even managed to win rounds?
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