FORTNITE gameplay Review – Great Game, Can’t Recommend It

What’s Good… It’s Fevir. Today I want to talk about FORTNITE gameplay. This is a game I’ve been playing quite heavily this last little bit.. so I thought I’d speak on it. To just cut to the bottom line.. this is a great game- that I can’t recommend. And that might sound really strange to hear.. but I’ll try to break down why that’s the case. Fortnite as a game.. is a co-op, up to 4 player.. hero based.. lobby based… survival slash tower defense.. slash.. a whole bunch of other things. The game boils down to joining a type of mission from a selection of different mission types that amount to defending a point, rescuing survivors, building structures .. all while defending against hordes and hordes of zombies. And because it is part of that Zombie genre.. scavenging the surrounding areas for materials is also core to the game.. and besides using an assortment of weapons.. from rifles to grendade launchers.. to golf clubs to machetes.. you can choose from a number of different heroes- that have specific abilities and passives to allow them to excel at different things..

You also have free reign to both destroy most of what is on a map.. but also build structures using an incredibly intuitive, simple.. yet powerful building function- and then dress your structures up with traps to better manage the zombie menace. This is where the tower defense thing kind of comes into play. Now all of this.. is done in these pretty large open maps- that are procedurally generated.. with a decent amount of variation for you to explore. They will contain your main objective.. but also contain these randomly spawned additional missions.. so you could be meant to defend a point.. but while running around the map you may find a person being chased by zombies.. that you can help out.. you may find a rift that houses a very strong..

Almost miniboss type zombie that you’re rewarded for killing. Looking at the game.. it’s incredibly stylized- the writing and the humor of the portions that have quest and narrative is great.. the gunplay looks a lot worse than it feels. The act of playing the Fortnite, is great. It’s a fun game.. better yet, it’s a fun co-op game. All of this stuff.. is what is great about Fortnite. The gameplay listed above is very addicting- the building on it’s own.. is incredible and you’re even given multiple home bases- that you can create these persisitent structures of your own or visit your friends.. that you
can easily sink hours and hours trying to perfect.. and something I liked a lot more than I should.. are the lengths of each mission.. generally ranging from about 15-30 minutes each.. and are gated by a clock so it helps to hold that speed run mentality off.. a bit. Now at this point.. I probably have about 60 hours in the game.. and it’s still fun to play.

Where Fortnite falls for me.. is everywhere else. Now we’ll touch on a bunch of issues.. but I’ll start with the progression. I’m not going to go into a huge amount of detail.. because explaining each piece of Fortnite’s progression.. will sound convoluted.. because it is. Instead of picking and choosing specific progression or customization structures that make sense for the game.. it almost feels like Fortnite collects them.. this leads to an untuitive interface and menu clusterfuck.. that gives the illusion of complexity.. when it ends up just being a lot of knobs to tune. But the crux of the problem.. is that basically everything in the game- outside of the act of building. Exists as a card. So your hero, your weapons, your survivors- which are a Fortnite themed system that is most comparable to armor, your traps, your defenders..
Your everything. Exist with a rarity, level and tier. Rarity is color coded and should seem familiar to you from other online RPGs.. grey, green, blue.. purple.. etc. Level- instead of earning experience through use- experience exists as an item that you earn as a reward from missions.. or by destroying
a card- higher levels.. means more power. And tier.. denoted by the star.. that if you’re familiar with mobile games- this would be the awakening or evolution..
But without going into it.. this represents level thresholds and additional strength. Now why this is important to go over.. is that when it comes to progression in this game- or getting stronger. There are 2 main forms. There is the progression that you can chase.. so strengthening the cards you have.. with experience to level them up- or playing missions to level your account up.. which lets you put skill points into a tree. But there is a limit… or rather a wall.. or better yet, a cap. You can max out those levels- but progression is hinged on your specific cards rarities.. as that increases the amount of times they can be leveled up.. or the amount of abilities on a hero.. or bonuses attached to a weapon. This doesn’t sound too bad.. until we talk about the second form of progression.. a form you can’t chase. There exists a secondary skill tree, the research tree.. where you earn points passively over real world time.. and as long as you log in for the day and collect your research points.. you will innately grow stronger over time.. and then.. the true cap of your strength is obtaining cards..
But not only the right cards.. but the right cards in the right rarities. And the only reliable way to do this is through the use of Vbucks.. the game’s premium currency, mainly acquired through spending real money.. to buy.. lootboxes.. or as they are called here- llamas. There is a small amount of Vbucks awarded sporadically through playing.. to the extent of around 1 llama every 2-3 days… and the tutorial phases of the game.. just throw them at you initially to get you started. And progression turns into hoping that the right thing drops.. a higher quality version than what you already have.. and not to conflate it even further.. but most drops also have an aRPG like randomness to it.. with properties or effects that are randomized as well.

Which not to pile on to the game.. many of which either have graphical bugs.. or the bonuses don’t currently function properly.. there is no way to target specific things, you can get duplicates.. and in an act of goodwill with their consumer.. because the monetization of the game has been a concern for the years of testing the game has had under NDA- just recently they gave their players 15 llamas.. this is the equivalent of about a month or more of what you can earn as a free player.. I earned 1 side grade. RNG is a fickle bitch.. and besides the legendary cards I got for buying my founder’s pack.. probably close to $100 worth of llamas.. and I haven’t gotten any legendary guns, melee weapons, heroes, defenders or traps…
And that’s the second highest rarity. And this.. unchasable progression is what the community has been calling the wall.. which essential is just saying your progression is capped by something you don’t really have control over.. with effort. So this wall.. exists because.. let’s pretend you have leveled up everything as far as you can. That’s not realistic for most people.. as one of the game’s systems.. which is best compared to armor in other games.. is basically 64 equipped items.. that are all leveled up individually.. not to mention a rather extensive skill tree…
That would require one hell of a grind… but let’s say you could. Your top level strength.. is 100% tied to your luck in the rolls of those llamas- and even something more specific like a legendary gun vs an epic gun.. the difference is large.. and so for me.. someone who has spent a couple hundred bucks on the game- I have a less powerful account and character.. than my friend who I gifted his account and he’s spent nothing. It’s RNG progression- but unlike say an aRPG where this is done via running maps or killing bosses over and over again- where you are limited only by your effort and time.
Fortnite is done through limited.. lootbox RNG- it’s like saying.. you can run 1 rift or 1 map every 2 days.. or you can spend money. Pretty literal definition of pay to.. maybe.. and probably not.. progress. THAT ALL SAID – I personally don’t have a problem with this type of system. I’ve been pretty transparent in the past that I enjoy gacha style games- which this takes a lot of inspiration from.. there is room for games like this although not everyone will feel that way- trading card games like magic are still wildly successfull.. and I jusst don’t trust people who play who don’t enjoy opening up a fresh pack. What I find matters more.. is the way the game surrounding the system is delivered- it can be shitty if the game is balanced around needing certain RNG drops.. Or having a competitive mode.. two things that Fortnite doesn’t have or do. But it requires a mentality shift.. it’s a game you can’t binge.. or rather.. doesn’t reward you for binging.. so playing 12 hours over the weekend.. might not progress you as much.. as if you just played an hour a day over the week.. and RNG can trump all that effort. This style has pros and cons.. I look at some of the gacha style games I do play.. Summoner’s War and FFBE and these are games that have managed to maintain almost daily attention from me.. for over a year each. Something very few games do.. but.. I know how shitty the system can be..
And how exploitive it feels.. as well as not being common in a game like this.. which.. is why I can’t recommend it… if you don’t know what you’re getting into.. and.. without boring you or appearing to further rationalize.. it’s a shitty implementation of a gacha system. But what’s more.. and this is a real problem. These types of games.. quite often have a very long similar.. unrealistic grind attached to them.. and generally only work well in tandem with things like daily, weekly, monthly and holiday events.. to dress up the grind- give more limited time rewards or freebies or goals to active players.
To add novelty and give you short goals to focus on while you make progress on longer tail goals unknowingly. And the developers have said.. they are looking to make Fortnite be a platform that they will add onto in the future.. events interest them.. but I’m getting the feeling they are trying to substitute that.. with the procedurally generated worlds and this alert style, limited time rewards for running the same mission… which won’t work… and people.. throughout all the tests.. burn out hard.. and you’re already seeing it now. And knowing how small the team is.. knowing how slow development went during the closed alpha under NDA- megabacon and base recycler.. for a bit of street cred there. It can be hard enough to keep up a content schedule in a mobile game.. that just does 2D sprites without real animation.. let alone 3D models or new biomes or prefabs to put into a game like this. So I’m worried.. they won’t be able to have enough of an aggressive event system or changing reason to log into the game…
Which at this point is a comment that.. will be met.. with something I haven’t even mentioned. People are bound to say.. Dude.. it still has time to flesh itself out. It’s in Early Access. Now, you guys know my feeling about early access.. it’s a dumb phrase that means next to nothing at the best of times.. and the moment you can pay in for access.. and especially if there is further monetization onto those people who have already paid- outside just testing the system… it’s basically released.. and the phrase exists only as armor. Usually these are even the peak profits for these games- the most buzz they’ll get.. and will roll into release.. with not a big fuss.
But Fortnite.. god damn.. and I might get a little heated here. They have taken the phrase.. and bent it over. So let’s start small.. and build. The latest early access release of Fortnite had a headstart period for founder’s.. they have confirmed.. there will also be no more wipes.. they have also been blasting out marketing which of course includes sponsored streams and influencer content..
And while if you look online.. you will clearly be able to see that it is labeled as early access… that is more the exception than the rule.. and when I go to the Playstation store.. nowhere before I buy it does it mention it’s in early access… or even beta. Interestingly.. Dreadnought and Destiny 2 are recent examples of having a games art- show that it wasn’t a real release- so it’s not that they couldn’t do it.. and I haven’t seen it with my own eyes because I don’t use an XBOX.. but apparently XBOX has a section for both early access or in development games..
And released games.. and guess which section Fortnite shows up in. Released. Offline.. it’s even worse… I took these images from Gamestop.. today.. I also checked Bestbuy, Walmart, Shopper’s Drug Mart.. which is a pharmacy and a couple other places.. all had physical copies of the game- no indication on the game itself that it was in early access.. and asking every clerk about the game even seeing it in store flyers..
No one knew, no warning or indication that it was an unfinished early access game. Now mentioning this online you get a ton of people.. almost victim shaming.. saying.. you should do research before you buy a game and if you don’t that’s on you.. let me just say.. from my experience having had my own game shop.. something dumb like 50% of people buying physical games were adults buying them for their children or nephews or presents… and that would go even higher in non-gaming centric places like say a Walmart. It’s also neat that it is selling for not only above what they sell base access for on PC- which is then playable on at least the PS4.. but the game is sold at full new release price.. and let me tell you.. the game is great. But the game isn’t complete- and it’s not that I didn’t get my money’s worth of entertainment.. It’s that it’s being sold under an assumption that it is complete.. and I mean.. the company taking the steps to not only get the game listed on the online stores.. and Playstation is notorious for not allowing most early access titles.. or going through the steps needed to ship physical copies.. like.. why not just wait.. until your actual release- which I haven’t mentioned is next year.. and the game will be free to play… or fuck.. put a sticker on it.. or add a blurb in the Playstation Store about it being early access.. or create a custom early access thumbnail for the game online.. like.. I don’t believe it’s malicious.. but it sure as hell is grimy.. and my wild speculation.. after seeing the grind.. I think they are hoping that by the time most people get to the point in the game.. where the content breaks down.. where the game is clearly unfinished, not just the appearance of bugs.. which there are many.. but not done.. they will have had time to patch that in..
And try to get ahead of it. The thing that made me the most upset.. and I saved it for last.. because people will be like.. oh boohoo.. poor little whale.. a fool and his money are easily parted.. but if you check out all the online stores and places to buy a founders pack.. you find 4 packages.. that range from around 50-200 Canadian.
Now as with games with huge founder’s packs.. a $200 one obviously was met with criticism.. but wait.. theres more. There is a hidden founder’s pack.. that you only can see.. if you buy the largest founders pack.. and the upgrade for me.. is like another $140. This is whale hunting.. done poorly.. specific offers targeted only at paying people.. hidden from the masses… who would roll their eyes to see a game with a close to $340 founder’s pack. Now.. if you’ve followed me.. you know I have zero problem spending money in games.. and for games.. in support of them. So as I played fortnite.. as I was like.. man this game is fun.. I bought the largest package in support of the game… and if that hidden pack was there.. I probably would of bought instead.. just to show support. But I was actually streaming it when I bought it.. and I would love if someone from that stream corraborated this in the comments.. but I went from this mini rant.. about supporting people and projects you find value in.. and the moment I bought it..
And this new package instantly popped up.. I went.. fuck this.. I think I want refund. Again.. you might be like.. oh boohoo. But think about it like this right.. your friend tells you he forgot his lunch and asks if you can spare a couple bucks so he can eat. Across 3 different friends with varying disposable income.. 1 guy might say.. yeah man.. its not much.. but heres 10 bucks.. get yourself a bigmac… the next friend.. goes.. heres 25.. stay away from fast food go somewhere without a drive through… the last friend goes.. shit, you’re having a bad day..
Lets make it a great day.. heres $100.. go somewhere fancy and treat yourself. Right.. all this done.. to help out.. to support a friend they feel a type of way for.. but the tone completely changes.. if the friend turns around to the person who just gave him $100 for lunch.. and goes something like.. hey man.. I probably won’t bring money for lunch tomorrow.. can you spare another $100. And it stops being about the dollar amount.. and there is this feeling of being taken advantage of in such a direct way.. that.. dude.. I just don’t get it.. all to.. not show the pack in the store? So much of how this game has been shown to the public since it’s final early access debut is just grimy.. and it’s kind of strange.. because I don’t think it’s malicious. And in over the long years this game has been developed.. it had always given off a for gamers.. by gamers vibe. They said the right things in the past..
Monetization will only be cosmetics and maybe boosts.. they find the idea of time gates.. super lame. But I think somewhere in what appears to be.. if you look into it.. developer hell.. in trying to get this game actually pushed out and playable.. they had to compremise.. and there might have been an outside influence that you may be able to attribute certain things to. Now honestly.. the game is great. Everything else.. almost deserves to be reworked.. entirely. Obviously.. that’s not realistic. But as someone who has spent too much time and money in various mobage, and early access and paid betas and freemium games.. the way I see the whole thing.. is they’ve settled on a way of monetizing.. they’ve built a game around it.. they’ve pulled inspiration and features.. but are having a bit of an identity crisis.. where they dont want to be.. or be perceived.. as what they are.. you can’t play both sides.. and all they are going to do.. is turn away the audiences on both sides. I honestly.. could keep going.. already too long of a video. Fortnite.. Great game. Don’t recommend.. until next time. This is Fevir. Peace..