Apex Legends review - what is the secret of the game's resounding release success?

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The review is of an introductory nature, and will help you find the answer to the main question: what is the secret of the stunning success of the recent release of the game, and what its future awaits.

An old story with a new twist

It would seem that the Battle Royale genre has been exploited by everyone. The probability to create something fundamentally new and promising was negligible. But the creators of Apex Legends succeeded. Within the first 8 hours of its release, more than 2.5 million players were interested in the game. Then one after another records followed on Twitch – in the first days after the launch, the game easily surpassed Fortnite – its direct competitor in views. Reasons for its success? Well, there are several.

First, the game made a lot of noise even before its release. While Respawn Entertainment’s loyal fans were waiting for the release of the third installment of Titanfall, Respawn moved into EA Games’ ownership and promptly rethought their plans. Apex Legends, based on the Titanfall universe, is hard to call a continuation of the series. But it certainly piqued the interest of all interested gamers.
Secondly, the creators of Apex very skillfully played on the effect of surprise. No long announcements and lingering promises. The game was announced on the day with the release date – February 4, 2019. The developers left no time for discussion and judgment, letting their new brainchild speak for itself – it’s cool and unusual.
Third, using somewhat traditional Titanfall 2 gameplay, the game combines the best features of popular online shooters, including PUBG and Overwatch.

On top of everything else, Apex has a number of features that set it apart from the rest of the battle royale. Let’s break them down in more detail.

New World Builders

Apex’s plot doesn’t shine with novelty. Although … when has this problem ever bothered shooter fans? In a distant space region called the Frontier, a large-scale war has recently ended. The survivors came together in a struggle for power. “Iron Throne”, as usual, will go to the strongest. And to settle it all, daredevils from all corners of the Frontier will meet in bloody battles called the Apex Games. Check out the official trailer:

Focusing on the essentials. There are 60 players in each battle. There are 3 people in a team, for a total of 20 teams. The goal, as in any battle royale, is to be the last survivor. Safety zone, represented by a circle, gradually narrows, forcing opponents to meet in a head-on collision (sitting quietly in the bushes is not an option). On the map there are areas where you can get good weapons and equipment. An ideal option at the beginning of the game – to land in one of these areas. True, with 200% probability you will not be alone there. In addition, on the ground you can find the boxes with the loot, from which you can fall out anything you want.

There are different types of weapons and armor in the game. You’ll be lucky if you get a gold or legendary item. Gold and legendary armor have bonuses. For example, with a gold backpack, you can reduce the health recovery time. In general, one of the nice features of Apex Legends is the presence of many hidden chips and advantages. Even seasoned players have unexpected discoveries in this regard.

Each character (in Apex they are called “legends”) has its own unique abilities. The key to success is well-coordinated teamwork, where each participant performs his function. Having played as different characters, you can choose the best option that suits your playing style. One character is an excellent healer, another is an excellent defender for the whole team, and the third has useful tactical abilities. Another plus of Apex: each character has a unique story and characteristics. In this regard, the game can be compared to Overwatch.

You’ll have to make an effort to destroy your opponent. After all, ttc (time to kill) in Apex is one of the highest among all the games of this genre. To help players, the developers added a useful trick: the color of the numbers differ depending on the level of armor. Paying attention to these nuances, you can build a correct strategy of attack.

The way how to interact in the team deserves special attention. The creators of the game invented a special system of tags, through which allies can communicate without using the voice. It is a very useful tool for those who are playing with random people. By the way, the idea with the tags was so successful that it was borrowed by the Fortnite developers.

Tip for newcomers: If you were eliminated, do not rush to off yourself. A box with a banner will appear in place of your lifeless body, which team members can take within 90 seconds to the resurrection lighthouse. And you can play on.