I Apologize, Fortnite.
I Was Not Familiar With Your Game.
I Was Not Familiar With Your Game.
I’ve been around for a long time and have seen Fortnite evolve over the years since its creation. When it was at its peak, I was there, mocking the game, the streamers, and even the players. Whenever I’d hear my younger brother talk about it, I would make it my goal to try and interest him in literally any other game. I thought it was ridiculous.
I had no justified reason to do this. At the time, the meme of it was that Fortnite was cringe, and that was enough for me to hate on it. I had not ever even played it myself. I was a lot less accepting then, and looking back on it today, I regret not just taking the opportunity to create some good memories with my brother in what he liked. But, I digress.
Little did I know at the time, future me would spend at least over $100 on Fortnite’s battle passes and its many cosmetics. Future me would also spend dozens upon dozens of hours playing its many events and modes. I had sorely misjudged this game, and in recent times, not only have I enjoyed it, I have greatly enjoyed it. Fortnite deserves my apology. It’s deserving of my recommendation, too.
Because maybe you’re like how I used to be. Seen the cringe, know its audience, have an opinion. Well, Fortnite isn’t just Battle Royale anymore. It’s got so much more going for it. There’s a word I’d like to use, I think a lot of people have a negative connotation with it, but it’s just the best description for it: Fortnite is a platform now. I think that it’s a good thing.
You’ve got the classic Battle Royale still, sure. But Epic Games has innovated and iterated to keep the game fresh, and to reach entire categories of new audiences. “How about we remove the annoying building aspect for a mode. What if the vehicles were tweaked a bit and given their own racing mode. How about we get some of the core developers behind Rock Band and bring them in to make a competent rhythm game mode. Oh, there’s a movie for a popular franchise coming out? Let’s get in touch with the IP holders and see how we can integrate that into a mode. You know what? Let’s give the players tools to make their own maps and their own modes. Let’s scrap the shooting and focus on a mode that’s centered on building. Actually, let’s make a mode where it’s in first-person, instead of third-person. Hey, let’s get that popular music artist and do a virtual concert where people can just experience that for free” etc., etc.
I would be shocked if you could not find something in Fortnite to enjoy, it is genuinely THAT all encompassing. I would also be shocked if you could not find a cosmetic you liked, because the reach Epic has through their partnerships and crossovers is ridiculously extensive. This more so than any other game that has ever, and will ever, exist. All it needs is a VR mode, and it will quite literally be the closest thing we have to the science fiction meta-verse, in the most positive and realistic way possible. In fact, I’m willing to bet in the next 10 years, that’s exactly where it goes. Collect your skins now while they’re cheap!
I’ve played dozens of hours of the Battle Royale mode in quite a few different seasons over the years and have always enjoyed playing it, either with friends or solo. It’s amazing how they’re able to change the feel of it slightly by including different unique items. It’s fun to see what’s changed after taking a break. Even beyond the new stuff, the shooting always feels top-notch, the movement’s dialed in, and each new victory royale still feels just as euphoric as the first.
I’ve loved a number of the seasonal events that give free cosmetics too, which usually have their own spin on a few missions to accomplish them. As far as other modes go, I’ve played dozens of hours in Lego Fortnite and have enjoyed that almost as much as battle royale. The Rock Band-esque Fortnite Festival is also extremely competent for a rhythm game, where I’ve got a handful of hours there. I still haven’t been sold on the racing, despite all efforts to get into it. But it’s there! People enjoy it and populate the servers hosting it.
Everywhere I look in the game, I find more reasons to play, and every time I do play I get hooked for a number of hours across a number of weeks, with and without friends accompanying me. It’s pleasant, and it’s low stakes because that’s what I’ve chosen it to be for me across its vast selection of gameplay options. The crazier thing, to me, is the battle pass is usually flexible enough to allow for this sort of casual play, which makes me really respect Epic Games.
Despite all the praise, and it being installed on 3 of my devices most of the time, I still don’t play regularly, or consistently. More egregiously, I haven’t quite played enough to justify how many cosmetic-only purchases I’ve made. But I think that’s more reflective of my own gaming habits, moving away from live services and preferring games that simply end after 20 some odd hours. This despite the “unlimited” wealth of varying experiences Fortnite has to offer.
I’m a little ashamed that it’s taken me so long to appreciate and admit Fortnite is a great game. That may be divisive for one reason or another, from one player base or another, but for me, I’m really satisfied with the experience I get out of Fortnite every time I boot it up. Next time you see a collaboration that really interests you, I highly recommend you install it and dive in on a whim to try it out for the duration of the event. If you’re anything like me, you’ll come to some of your own realizations on whether it’s for you or not, and perhaps some of those will fall similarly in line to mine, and you’ll change your mind as well.
Originally published at https://backloggd.com.