Fortnite OG is back!
Fortnite is one of those games I always go back to. Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that Epic Games are the masters of the live service, free-to-play battle royal genre. While it may have unleashed a new generation of mini gamers doing the floss in public, there’s no denying the significant impact Fortnite has had on the gaming industry. Personally, I missed a few seasons as I needed to have a bit of a break, and I think many of my friends felt the same. With the launch of Chapter 4: Season OG, a limited season spanning only a month, I feel like it’s the perfect break from Fortnite itself. What’s Fortnite OG like? Let’s drop in!
Starting off with the obvious, the original Fortnite map is back, along with some remixed OG skins that featured in the early season of the game. The “OG Battlepass” as it’s called, only consists of 50 levels to reflect the smaller season window, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see if there’s an extension or some kind of surprise towards the end of the season. The Battlepass features some cool-looking skins and variations, as well as pickaxes and gliders. Every week, Epic will be unvaulting weapons and vehicles so planes will make their glorious return, but I’m hoping the battle mechs sit this one out!
Dropping into the old map gave me a feeling of nostalgia and rediscovering old locations has so far been a great endeavor. Dropping at Tilted Towers still results in a sweaty combat-heavy experience, while landing at Lazy Links gives you room to breathe. All locations are exactly as you remember them, including little furnishings, random decorations, and giant Tomato Temples. Each location offers a different sort of combat experience whether it be close urban fighting or long-distance sniping.
The gameplay itself hasn’t changed much, however, and modern quality-of-life changes like vaulting, sprinting, and sliding are all present. Swimming is not, and players now wade through water areas, causing many to be caught off guard and slowed in combat zones. All of the original weapons are back, as well as classic items like Port a Fort and the Rift to go. It all feels like a great tribute back to the early days of the game and I’m all for it.
While Player Unknowns Battlegrounds was my first foray into the Battle Royale Genre, Fortnite took the concept to the next level with an unraveling narrative and constant adjustments and content updates to keep people interested. The Battlepass concept meant for casual Fortnite players like myself could get to the end of the pass just as a new season was about to start, dishing out rewards with almost every play through that made it feel like an accomplishment. This was something that PUBG seemed to lag on and despite them turning it around, by the time they did, Fortnite had firmly cemented itself as the premier Battle Royal game. Being free to play and on multiple formats certainly didn’t help.
That same rewarding feeling is present in the Fortnite OG Season, and while the time and Battle Pass are both shorter, I for one cannot wait to try to cap out the Battle Pass with my limited spare time, and as both my kids play, they can help carry the team! This new season will excite newcomers and series veterans alike in my opinion, and I highly recommend boarding the battle bus one more time to drop in.
For us older gamers, I feel like Fortnite OG is the perfect excuse to get back into the game, even if it’s to see this short season out. It’s a fun throwback to the classic map, with modern adjustments. It’s fun and fast combat style and quick match turnaround means you won’t be waiting in a lobby for too long. While it may be a limited event, it’s certainly a game changer.
So, where are we dropping?
