We now find Battle Royale everywhere: Twitch, consoles, PCs, even smartphones. This mode, which most development studios didn't give a penny, now dominates the charts, with more or less lucky titles. Although there have been previous Battle Royale, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds however, it is the true progenitor, the title that opened the doors to others. After about 1 year of Xbox One exclusive on consoles, PUBG also arrives on PlayStation 4. Is it too late?
Look beyond the barrier
The thing they often complain about PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds it always revolves around gameplay and graphics. For this reason we will divide the review between the more technical and the more conceptual sector, composed of game mechanics that are perhaps difficult to understand immediately, but which in the long term give satisfaction.
In technical terms, the game does not excel in graphics: Infused with pop-ups, really mid-level textures, and a constant need for computing power, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds won't make you scream at the visual miracle. On the other hand, despite the high initial earnings, the game has never focused on graphics, but on the game itself. Fortunately, however, all the problems experienced by PC and Xbox One users, here on PlayStation 4 have disappeared (the opposite would have been strange) in favor of a smoother game, free of frequent jams and bugs. In short, the game forgets the etiquette of the graphics sector but offers a substance that is not bad at all.
Speaking of substance, the game presents dynamics that are difficult to learn, which you will have to discover over time and learn to perfection to survive. How to use the two and four-wheeled vehicles, understanding where to parachute and studying all the available maps will be vital steps in order to be the Winner Winner Chicken Dinner, the only survivor.
The mix of well-structured sounds, studied environments, weapons characterized by details such as range, cadence and decay of the bullet transform a simple game into a real survival race, anxious enough to stand out in the first places of the ranking - at least the one that does not count the sales - gods Battle Royale. Everything is always surrounded by a sense of loneliness that no bright color or special effect will relieve you, certainly giving a more appropriate and adult atmosphere to this. Battle Royale when compared to others (did anyone say Fortnite?).
A series of unfortunate events
Unfortunately, the fact that Fortnite itself is free, mixed with the far higher barrier of entry than that of the Epic Games game, makes the experience of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds something not suitable for everyone - to be sought only if certain - and deviated from titles such as Black Ops 4 or other Battle Royale. Although it will therefore be difficult to see the title in question rise again at the top of the genre, we certainly do not feel like punishing Bluehole Studio Inc. for choices that certainly would have worked better in another historical period.
Finally, the curse of the buttons remains: if on PC the mouse pointer and the dynamism of the keyboard can accompany your assaults, the joypad is awkward to manage, requiring more than a test game before understanding how to move your fingers.
There are errors, and many are counted in the technical sector and in a lightness of the company in launching news without first having tested them, but many games have survived after having generated real catastrophes, so we do not expect that PUBG give up the consoles soon. Fortunately - for some - the possibility of choosing remains: if you want a sparkling and light game, capable of making you laugh and have fun, a multitude of Battle Royale await you out there. If, on the other hand, you want real war, survival made of textures, the sweat of the brow that falls as a harmful storm closes around you and a couple of shots fly from positions that are difficult to decipher, then you absolutely must approach the experience of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.
