Graphics:

At launch, PUBG looked like a game development student’s unfinished work which was submitted just because it was time to pass up their final year project. They tried going down that realistic route but just decided to stuff it and walk down to the servo to grab a pack of smokes or something instead. Graphics-wise, the game lacked polish everywhere you looked and even now, a few years post-release …. it still looked the same.

Probably because the student never bothered to update his new resume with updated content.

Oh wells. “BUT IT GOT ME MY FIRST JOB, RIGHT? WHY CHANGE IT????”

If PUBG looked like a half-baked attempt for realism, Fortnite was a half-baked attempt at appearing casual and nonchalant. It’s a case of your stoner friend going ‘Can I copy your work, but I promise I won’t make it too obvious’ resulting in a convoluted mess but ended up getting an A+ because it somehow caught the grading officer’s fancy. Also it scored a higher grade than YOUR original work. Go figure!

“I DUNNO BRO. I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A B- IF I DIDN’T AMEND MY WORK WHEN COPYING YOU”

Blackout, on the other hand, is the straight edge, no-nonsense kid from a well-off family known for their past successes. Graphics wise, their offering is thoroughly polished even from the beta stage which made everyone else’s work beforehand look like kindergarten work.

Then in comes Respawn with Apex Legends. The savant whose submission ekes just enough originality to stand out without appearing being too tryhard about it. Novel yet familiar; experimental yet grounded. Fully aware of what others are doing, the graphics in Apex Legends is easily distinguishable and fresh without being too left field and this is where they nudge ahead of the competition.

The A-Star Sticker goes to: Apex Legends. The futuristic and militaristic presentation of Apex Legends just beat the polished bro shooter in Blackout by a whisker. In the end, it all boils down to preference.

‘Good Effort’ Stamp Recipient: Black Ops IIII‘s Blackout.

Next Page: Gameplay and Unique Selling Point