It’s time for the battle of the Battle Royal games! In this corner, the realistic looking and first to come out: Player Unknowns Battle Grounds! And in this corner, the new and improved game that is climbing the charts: Fortnight! We have five categories and our fighters are ready to go.
Graphics
PUBG – Graphically the open world has more a of a realistic and militant vibe. The environment is realistic with the weather and buildings where resources can be found.
Fortnite – Here, this game is more cartoonish. This had to do with some changes from the developer so that the environment wasn’t too dark and scary. There are brighter colors and nicer in world items that just seem crisp. Add on to this that resources can be built and upgraded over time as well.
Winner- For graphics, I would choose to be in the most realistic environment. Not that anything is wrong with a peppier world. I just like the effects of the weather and the potential to see where I could realistically hide if in such a tournament. PUBG might not look as “good” as Fortnite, but it definitely looks real.
Modes
PUBG – Modes make a game replayable. Zombies always seem to be a big draw for battle games and PUBG gives players exactly that. Teams can join up and focus on killing zombies specifically compared to a battle royal against other players. Different modes include Solo, Duo, Squad. Zombies by far has the best appeal for PUBG.
Fortnite – In 2017, a time limited 50 versus 50 mode was added compared to the normal 100 player Battle Royal. More modes are being created, but so far this is the big draw. This makes rounds quicker and a bit more challenging from the beginning of the round since there are fewer people to knock out.
Winner – Quick rounds are great when there isn’t a story involved. But this doesn’t mean that Fortnite has won. So far, PUBG is winning my vote for this category. Sometimes you want to kill zombies with friends, and other times you just want to play alone and that’s great for whatever mood I may be in. Having those modes forever, instead of just for a limited time, is a huge selling point.
Gameplay (different types of weapons)
PUBG- Based in realism, weapons are scattered across the map in various buildings. This also includes health kits and other gear that can be added to the player’s character. Most common weapons are rifles and pistols. Vehicles are also around the different map locations but using a vehicle leaves players open to being found from a distance.
Fortnite – Fortnite is sillier in their approach to each battle. Every player starts off with an axe and they get to keep that axe even if they have nothing else. When starting a round weapons can be found around the map and so can upgrades. These upgrades assist in allowing the player to make a more powerful weapon or reinforce their bases. One of the sillier weapons is a dance gun. When used, the gun causes the victim to dance in place instead of being killed. An unseen benefit too is the addition of potions that can be used for healing and more.
Winner – Weapons don’t matter much to me. This doesn’t mean that I don’t want the biggest baddest weapon to take out all of the other players, it just means that a weapon is a weapon and I don’t want to stop and upgrade my inventory every time I find something the craft with. PUBG wins again, but only slightly.
Fun Factor (Replay ability)
PUBG – Without added modes or DLC to the game, PUBG may become exhausted quickly. Playing in a squad mode and zombie mode is fun when there is enough people to participate. This however means more mouths to feed and more people to heal during the round. Without the added content, PUBG is like playing the same game over and over. The only savior to this cycle is the ability to see different areas of the map and use the game to get really good at being the best and trying to secure the top spot.
Fortnite – Since the game offers buildable items and crafting, there is more that can be done in the long run. Even with the rounds being the same, “get the top spot,” there are many items that can be upgraded to use again. Once the map becomes smaller and people start to build and fortify their area, people can get to be really creative to keep others out making the round exceptionally difficult. For added fun, player could even try to get through the rounds without using any of these items too.
Winner– Fortnite is the clear winner for me. Fortnite offers many different options and has shown that they will be working on more modes as well. Since they also throw in some crazy funny stuff, the anticipation of what the developers might come up next will keep me coming back for sure. Plus, the crafting system offers many different ways to play too.
Difficulty
PUBG – Depending on the mode being played, the difficulty can be all over the place. Sometimes bas luck happens and a zombie takes you out right away, while in other rounds, you can play almost until the end and have a massive duel to the death with only the weapons you’ve found. Is the game difficult though? Not really. Over time players become very good at accomplishing what they need to do on their checklist without worrying about stopping to craft different items.
Fortnite – Along the same lines, Fortnite isn’t super difficult. The only difficulty stems from the constant stopping and starting in order to upgrade weapons, craft forts or change your character. This can take a player out of the game for a moment which can be detrimental because the player isn’t as engaged in the fight.
Winner– If I wasn’t so delighted with the crafting system, I would choose Fortnite. However, the simplistic side in me just likes to get in the game and play. I don’t want to be distracted by constant crafting and changes in order to try and get the upper hand. Feeling tense in a game such as PUBG is exactly how I want to feel in a Battle Royal situation.
Overall Winner: PUBG. Fortnight does a lot of things right in regards to a Battle Royal game, but PUBG was there first. With more realistic looking graphics and weapons that feel like they belong in a Call of Duty game, PUBG brings the pain and the fun.
