3.9
39590
Android
1.3.0
March 8, 2021
345MB
Tencent Mobile International Limited
IOS
1.13.12
April 13, 2021
3.8 GB
Tencent Mobile International Limited
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The renowned battle royale game that started it all, adapted to mobile devices! Scavenge, kill, and become the sole survivor in thrilling, action-packed deathmatches.
Many people associate the battle royale genre with Fortnite, but it was actually PUBG (previously known as PlayerUnknown Battlegrounds) that provided the framework for future battle royale games. Inspired by the Japanese film Battle Royale (no surprise there), Brendan "PlayerUnknown" Greene began to work on a standalone game built upon said film's concept, in what would become its own gaming genre.
The game was originally released on Steam, with subsequent console ports being launched. Its mobile version would arrive in 2018, courtesy of Tencent Games and PUBG Corporation. But, how does it compare to the original?
I confess to having a soft spot for the mobile version since it was the first one I played. Back in 2018, the game looked astonishing on my Samsung Galaxy S9, and it was one of the best-looking Android games I've ever played (comparable to the best-looking games available on Apple devices or the NVIDIA Shield).
When I tried it on PC, however, I noticed that the mobile port definitely lacked some of the polish and finesse of the PC version in terms of lighting effects and textures, even on the highest graphical settings. Houses were also a lot emptier. Regardless, I wasn't particularly bothered by all that and it was actually what I expected (for the record, the Xbox One version was terrible and, I would argue, worse than even the mobile version in some circumstances.)
What did strike me was the contrast in playability and framerate. Framerate is a crucial element in these types of games since they're highly precision-based and to the millisecond. One small delay in your reaction means you're pretty much dead. Even in more modern devices, framerate drops were a bit of an issue (at times, a game-breaking one). Regardless, it performs marvelously on current iPhones and Android flagships.
Now we get into the controls. Touch controls, no matter the amount of haptic feedback added, are no match for physical controllers when it comes to shooters. Actually, I would even argue that controllers are terrible for shooters too (particularly when aiming) and keyboard/mouse setup is the way to go, but that's a wholly different subject.
You can, theoretically, play this with a gamepad, but there was no official gamepad support for this game when I played it back in the day and, as far as I can tell, there is still no support as of this writing, meaning you have to find some workarounds to map the buttons (which is a bit of a hassle, if you ask me).
Some functions have been added in an attempt to make up for the shortcomings of on-screen buttons, such as an auto-run feature, which would have your character moving while you look around by dragging your finger across the screen. Aiming is still a nuisance, nonetheless.
In a nutshell, even with the number of improvements this game has received over the years, the experience on mobile is still not as pleasant once you try it on a PC. With all that said, it has been extensively featured as an eSports game, and it's nice that so many people are still able to enjoy the game with all its faults. For what it's worth, It did improve quite a bit since I first played it, which goes to show that the developers are taking their game seriously.
PUBG Mobile plays virtually the same as on consoles and PC. This is an online multiplayer game by nature, as the online aspect befits the game's entire concept.
You essentially compete with other players in a deathmatch in which the last man (or woman) standing wins. It's very similar in gameplay to the DayZ mod in ARMA 2 (developed also by Greene), which is considered the first instance of a full-fledged battle royale and an immediate precursor to PUBG, albeit the latter came with some additional twists.
After you select your character, you are taken to a plane that flies over the playable island. You choose when and where to eject and parachute down. After you land on the island's surface, you're supposed to search for munition and all necessary equipment in your surroundings to aid you in battle. The island is packed with empty houses and ghost towns that contain loot, and you must browse for useful gear inside the buildings and across the outdoor areas.
Meanwhile, the "safe area" shrinks progressively and you must try to avoid being outside of it, otherwise, you'll be taking damage. As the safe area becomes smaller, encounters increase and the action gets more intense. You must be on the lookout for possible sniping attacks, as well as stealthy enemies that could appear suddenly out of nowhere to get you.
You're able to install noise suppressors on your weapons in order to remain undetected while taking down adversaries one by one. You can also drive vehicles scattered across the island to get to places faster and increase your chances of getting good loot.
As you kill players, you may obtain their gear and you'll earn more in-game currency at the end of the match, which will allow you to purchase crates and customization options for your character and weapons.
Lastly, the game can be played solo or in squads, and you can take part in special events, each with its own set of specific rules. You'll also be allowed to enroll in eSports tournaments organized by a plethora of third-party platforms.
The question that should be asked now is: Is PUBG Mobile worth playing in 2022? I would say it is. There's still a large player base that you can interact with and lots of events to participate in. The game is also free, so you don't have to spend a penny in order to enjoy it. However, at its current state, if I were asked to pay for it, I most certainly wouldn't.
Do you have something to tell us regarding this review or the game itself? Don't hesitate to voice your thoughts in the commentary box below!
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