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The Genius of Fortnite As Described by a Recent Convert

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I didn’t know that I needed Fortnite in my life until E3 2018, where it was “surprise” dropped on Nintendo Switch. It quickly became one of my favorite games on the platform!

After quickly sinking multiple days’ worth of hours into the Battle Royale title, I’ve taken some time to reflect on what makes Fortnite so good. Usually I’m one to ignore what’s popular in the mainstream, but after giving it a fair-shake, I realize that Fortnite earned its spotlight and deserves all the attention it’s getting. Why? Read on…

The Gameplay Loop

Every single match, 100 players fly over an island and skydive down to their desired destination. Everybody starts with nothing, no matter how new or advanced the player, the battle starts on an even playing ground. You feel so vulnerable in those opening moments, with only a pickaxe in hand, and it’s exciting to gather a competent loadout and reassuring to find those much-needed health and shield items.

Risk/Reward

Depending on your skill level, you might drop right into Tilted Towers, grab a high-powered gun and immediately start fighting for your life. Or if you are more of a beginner, you can paraglide to the farthest reaches of the map where you’re not likely to run into another player for several minutes. Fortnite is constantly presenting the player with risk/reward choices: Should I get a headstart on the storm, or find that treasure chest? Should I drink my shield potion now, or save it for later? Should I fire on that distant enemy, or remain hidden? As you get more comfortable with the game, it becomes very rewarding to take more risks.

The Storm

The storm is an ever-present factor in Fortnite gameplay. You begin with 100 players on a huge island, but the game intelligently constricts the playspace as users fall one-by-one. You are given brief respites while the storm stands still, and you can use this to explore areas of the map which will soon be shrouded in toxic rain, or you may want to hurry up and get to the eye where you can set camp and stay safe. The storm is constantly drawing combatants together, causing people to be on the move, out in the open, and encountering one another (just like a good Hunger Games gamemaker).

Evolving World

The island has been mentioned a few times, and rightly so: it has a lot of character. New players will be tempted to think that it’s so big and diverse, it must be procedurally generated. But no! While weapon and chest locations are slightly randomized, the team at Epic crafted a huge world with unique locations that blend together seamlessly. Not only that, but the map changes with time. Recently, I was in a squad when the gunfire stopped as everyone watched a rocket launch and tear a crack in the sky dome—a crack that has been spreading ever since. The world feels alive and it’s great to know that the developers are putting continuous effort into a portion of the game that would otherwise become stale.

Aesthetic Monetization

A quick glance about the gaming industry reveals some split opinions and shady tactics around microtransactions. Especially in online multiplayer shooters, developers and publishers are thinking of very creative ways to nickel-and-dime their playerbase. It was a breath of refreshing air to see that Fortnite only sells aesthetic options like character skins and stylized pickaxes. You can’t pay for an advantage in this game, unlike others where getting killed prompts a pop-up “YourMom64 killed you with a SuperSniper. Would you like to buy a SuperSniper for $2.99?” Fortnite’s doing it right!

Quick Matchmaking

Thanks to the compelling gameplay loop, and “one more game” syndrome, you’ll find yourself wanting rematch after rematch. Fortunately, Fortnite makes it all too easy to get in a lobby with 99 other players. Whether you’re playing solo or squadding up with friends—even with crossplay!—the process is painless (which is such a relief to say on a Nintendo platform).

Voicechat

The developers pulled it off! You can literally plug a 3.5mm headset into the Switch and use native, in-game voicechat with your teammates. It’s kind of incredible: no apps, no Wiispeak—just you, your headphones, and the game. That’s what we call “not overcomplicating things!”

There you have it… several reasons why Fortnite is a work of genius. And it’s free, so what are you waiting for? Give it a download and add “Scott TBC” before my wife stages an intervention and pries the Pro Controller out of my hands!

Salt. A True Story of Fortnite's Hidden Weapon

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I may have been late to the bandwagon, but there is no denying the fun that is Fortnite. If you are tired of hearing about this game, and have not yet played it, I highly recommend you give it at least a try. And now is the perfect time to join! It’s the start of a new season, which means that the map is new, there are new weapons and features, and everyone is getting used to them together. Plus, it Is free to play on Switch (or computer, if you’re taking a more tactical approach)!

Enough advertising. I was skeptical to start playing Fortnite for a number of reasons, including:

  • The game has been out for a while, which means I thought I had no chance (which turned out not to be the case).
  • I am not very good at, or typically drawn to, any type of shooting game.
  • The game is super popular, and sometimes I’m a hipster hater like that.

In the end, though, after an invitation from Scott, I finally succumbed and gave it a shot. Scott had been introduced by his brother, and it was his turn to bring me into the fold. After a round or two of battle royale (100 competitors all against each other) I was cracking the top twenty, and my turns were regularly lasting longer than Scott’s. Unbeknownst to me, I began to unlock some mind games that, although not beneficial for me, threw my buddy into a mood.

During one particular match as I decided which shotgun was better to keep, Scott, having been unable to find a gun his previous match, mocked with, “HUH! SHOULD I HAVE PUMP SHOTGUN, OR SHOTGUN PUMP?!” His brother and I were the only ones laughing.

After a day or so, Scott and I had about evened out, regularly placing in the top ten, but never claiming the elusive first place.

My wife happened to be with me on one such visit and requested to give it a shot to see what the big deal was. My wife is by no means a gamer, and I was elated that she was willing to give this ridiculous game that held her husband captive a shot. She dropped from the flying bus pretty much straight down next to the lake with a cabin situated on an island in the middle of it. without a gun, she marched through the lake, up the hill, and into the house without any opposition. Climbing the stairs, she entered a room with an occupant, and the rest of us (Scott, his wife and brother, and myself) cried out in shock! Swinging her pickaxe, she slew the unwitting squatter and took his gun.

We cheered and yelled through each step of her run, as the storm slowly forced her out of the house, making her take cover on the shores where the eye set up camp for the rest of the game. She crouched and crawled around as the number of remaining players dwindled. A port-a-fort popped up in the valley below. She popped out of cover, lobbing a stink grenade into the opening. Though she was not credited with the kill, we all saw that the bomb’s victim was killed after being forced into the open.

Eventually, the streak came to an end, and my significant other was slain. Her first game’s placement? Third place. We were all flabbergasted at the results. But her results were no fluke: her next two runs landed her in second and fifth respectively.

Though Scott has finally netted several victory royales since, the two of us were both jealous of my wife’s success. I had my very own piece of humble pie to eat. No matter the game, sometimes salty humble pie is the fuel of champions.