PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Preview - The most popular game of the year comes to the console

braini (61)in #gaming • 6 years ago (edited)

If you do not know the huge hype surrounding PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds prior to your first jump from the plane above Erangel, then you're forgiven for wondering where all the fuss is about. Almost a year after the game appeared on Steam Early Access, the Battle Royale-inspired shooter is now available on the Xbox One via Game Preview. However, as was the case in March, PUBG made the switch in a "work-in-progress" state. Almost immediately we are greeted with 'texture pop-in', framerate 'drops' and occasionally some tricky controls. Routed players know that this is part of it and even argue that those rough edges are part of the charm, but for us it feels very much like a déjà vu.

There is no escape from PUBG. 2017 saw how this unannounced and unfinished worldwide gained fame in no time and that is where it certainly remained. With around 25 million copies sold, it has grown into an undeniable sensation and with that it has also won a place in the Game of the Year discussion; you can not simply ignore those figures. The question is therefore whether the game makes the transition to the Xbox One doing well and whether it is worth an investment.

If you are considering the shooter or even request a ticket to Erangel to Santa, it is clear that PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds has something special that attracts and manages to grab. Despite the 'buggy' launch on both platforms, with few impressive production values, it remains a particularly attractive experience. After the first few hours, after we have mastered everything and are in the mood, that wonderful tension returned as we try to stay alive for as long as possible and in the meantime try to eliminate everyone who crosses our path.

Direct buildings are creeping in and out; tackle weapons and ammunition; provide us with new equipment; and we try to avoid danger while strengthening ourselves. Sometimes this works out well and you can take that first hurdle, other times you lose the first race and you unfortunately encounter an opponent; back to the loading screen for a new attempt. However, right from the start of every round - and perhaps this is the greatest strength of PUBG - you are asked to make meaningful decisions.

When do you jump out of the plane? What type of buildings are you going for while you are descending? When you arrive there how long do you stay there? What kind of equipment do you leave behind, which suit do you and what do you hope to do with this? If you see an enemy, are you going after it or are you hiding? Do you leave the doors of buildings to be faster or do you wipe all your traces of where you've been? Do you grab a motor for extra speed or do you keep a low profile and do you continue on foot?

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The questions keep on coming and as the game progresses, players are forced from zone to zone while avoiding bombing and life-threatening energy waves that would not be out of place in a science fiction movie from Hollywood - you're kept constantly on your toes. We have seen similar (and since then) similar elements in other titles, but none have succeeded in producing the same experience as the formula of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.

However, despite the undeniable allure to take it against 99 other players (or 49 pairs, or even squads of up to four players) and the richly detailed island created for a constantly evolving online experience, it is still difficult to more workmanship in many areas. The sound is inconsistent; we have seen the necessary server lag; the framerate drops are clearly noticeable; and enemies in the distance are sometimes too unclear. There is more than enough to optimize. We played mainly on the Xbox One X and it certainly does not feel like a smooth experience. Of course it concerns an Early Access release, but certainly on the X we expected more.

Switching from the keyboard to controller does not help either. It took us the necessary time to get used to targeting, because the apparent lack of 'aim assist' makes everything more difficult. We also recommend that everyone who plays for the first time check the controls first, as we took a very long time to load our first gun. Even when we figured it out, pressing the X button did not really feel like a satisfying way for this action. After a while, however, it felt more natural and finally, after we had died a few times by bad targeting and choosing a wrong location, we could get into the rhythm and survive longer and longer in every game - and have fun.PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is certainly in a much healthier state than the PC version during the launch.

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Even with the full release on the PC so close (which is still the best way to experience PUBG), there is still plenty to tinker with the console version. Both versions can use even more finishing, especially the beginning of each round is something that can be renewed; at the moment the lack of finesse at the loading screen and the aircraft are clearly noticeable. That said: this symbolizes briefly what PlayerUnknown's Battlegroundsis: a "work-in-progress" with rough edges that begins with a jump in the deep. PUBG offers a battlefield with constantly changing challenges and, despite the relatively limited scale, offers something attractive and endless replayability. If you can forgive the technical setbacks, the essence of the PC on the Xbox One remains intact and we see no reason that the popularity of PUBG will slow down in the coming period.

Thanks for reading, I hope you liked it!

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