Fortnite (for PC) Review

 

Fortnite is still the battle royale game to beat. It has a lot going for it, including approachable gameplay modes, bright and zany graphics, an excellent construction system, and a huge player base. Unfortunately, iffy combat and microtransactions detract from the experience, but, as Fortnite is a free-to-play game, genre fans should give it a shot.

Pricing and Platforms

Fortnite actually has two main gameplay elements: a player vs. environment (PvE) setup called Save the World and the mode I reviewed, which comprises the meat of the game: Battle Royale. Epic Games recently announced that Save the World will remain a paid experience, after originally promising that it would go the free-to-play route. On the web (and at the time of this update), it costs $15.99 to access this mode.

Epic Games recently announced Fortnite Crew, an $11.99-per-month subscription, which gives you full access to each Battle Pass and 1,000 bonus V-Bucks every month. This subscription also gives you exclusive outfit bundles.

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 If you don't already have an Epic Games account, all you need to do is sign up with an email address. Then, you can download Fortnite for free from the Epic Games Store. The game download is about 20GB, so it could take a while to install if you have a slow internet connection. Although you can jump into the action at no cost, there are microtransactions. I discuss Fortnite's microtransactions in more detail later in the review.

Currently, Fortnite is available on Mac, PC, PlayStation (4 and 5), Xbox One (S, X, and Series X or S), Nintendo Switch, and Android. Due to an ongoing legal dispute between Apple and Epic Games, Fortnite is no longer available from the App Store, though you can play it via Nvidia's GeForce Now game streaming platform. Fortnite's cross-play capabilities let players match up across desktop, mobile, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch platforms. The Save the World mode is not available on mobile devices or the Nintendo Switch.

If you want to virtually chill with friends while you play Fortnite, now you can. Fortnite integrates with the Houseparty app, so PC and PlayStation players can video chat with each other during a match.

During my review time, I had the option to try several different modes such as Solo, Duo, Squad (four-player teams), Team Rumble (20-player teams), Arena (competitive matches), and Party Royale (non-combat). Fortnite added the 20-player mode during my last review period, so it is likely that the number and types of modes could change in future updates. I appreciate the game's quick matchmaking. Regardless of the multiplayer mode I selected, it usually took less than a minute to be added to a match.

The pre-match staging area is situated on an island just off the coast of the main map itself. It's entertaining to peer off the side and see the entire playable landscape in a panoramic view. At most, you get a couple of minutes to explore the island, test out some mechanics, or just finalize your strategy before the battle begins. There's no bridge to the main map, so naturally, you fly in aboard the Battle Bus, a bright blue school bus, complete with a gigantic balloon and blaring sound system.

Once you find a good drop spot (and preferably one far away from other players) you jump out and begin a rapid free-fall descent. The game's physics let you cover a significant distance in any direction, so don't worry if you accidentally drop out over the wrong area of the map. Deploy your glider at any point to slow your descent and soften your landing (it deploys automatically once you get close enough to the ground).