The majority of people complaining about SBMM seem to be in the top echelon of players. Their complaints are valid. But it’s important to look at this as a mathematical challenge. The reality is that without SBMM, even middle-of-the-road casual players have an extremely high chance of being consistently matched with top players against whom they don't stand a cha
Top Apex Legends players are making impassioned pleas for game developer Respawn to do away will skill-based matchmaking (SBMM). From their perspectives, it’s not fair that public matches feel as competitive — if not more competitive — than ranked games . This is indeed problematic, as ranked exists specifically so top players can compete at a top-tier level. Players who play public matches shouldn’t be subject to the same level of competitive p
One of the most popular titles within the battle royale style of games, **Apex Legends ** provides a rapid style of gameplay that is unrivaled in its speed and intensity. The game takes inspiration from the cult classic Titanfall providing players with a breadth of movement options. Apex combines these movement options with a hero style shooter similar to the likes of Overwatch. Each legend providing a unique and differing playstyle than their peers. This encourages a variety of different styles in which aspiring Apex players can develop and master while maintaining a sense of identity and individuality through their character archet
Planet Zoo is one of the most advanced simulation games I've ever played. While it isn't perfect, it's pretty close and is paving the way for the sim genre. There is a depth we’ve never seen in both graphics and gameplay, which allows players to feel truly connected to the world they are building. Planet Zoo will take you into your environment in a brand new way, all while raising awareness of important issues through an engaging and enjoyable g
What separates a bad player from an excellent one in Apex is their understanding of the movement mechanics in the game. Learning how to slide, crouch, jump or climb over walls can establish a clear and explicit gap in skill between your competit
The game hosts 12 unique legends each with their own individual abilities and skills. Each character has a varying style of optimal play and becoming familiar with your favorite character skills will improve your style of play dramatica
It’s proof of excellence that the Respawn team addresses these challenges head-on. Not only did the team manage to build strong characters within the context of a battle royale, but they managed to bring it all together without making it feel forced. The story lives in places like loading screens, lore pieces shared via social media, cinemagraphs, Easter eggs and other environmental aspects of the game its
The biggest robbery of the 2019 Game Awards? A Plague Tale: Innocence not winning anything. Sure, the game wasn't perfect, but in terms of an original single-player narrative, the game was unmatched in its story and emotional impact. Disturbing enough to make me never want to to play it again, but fun enough to make me consider it, A Plague Tale: Innocence will never get the credit it deserves. Maybe its sequel will finally bring more players aboard, tho
Respawn learned from their first game that singleplayer content was important for the longevity of the game, investing in a great singleplayer campaign while improving on the fantastic foundation laid out in Titanfall . Launching this game next to Battlefield 1 and CoD: Infinite Warfare was a death sentence, which is a shame seeing as how much better this installment is over the original. Hopefully, this game can get the attention it deserves with the recent success of Apex Legen
Disco Elysium is a game where you can be a godawful human being or a superstar cop. I don't think I've had more fun this year with a game than I did stumbling around as my drunken detective, wearing a kimono and waxing poetic about liquor, karaoke, and the pointlessness of life. It's not for everyone, but if you love world-building and playing as self-loathing scumbags, then you should be playing Disco Elysium until you're face down on the fl
Truly random matchmaking allows so-called "pub stompers" to cannibalize less-skilled players. And, as annoying as it is for top players to constantly have to square off against other sweaty players when they're just trying to have fun with friends, it's also demoralizing for lower-skilled players to have to face off against pros and keep getting beaten over and over ag
Technically now the "third" version of what is perhaps the perfect game, the Resident Evil 2 remake updates a classic and shows developers that narrative-driven content can succeed without the need for multiplayer and microtransacti
How could it be anything other than Slay The Spire (I say, visit knowing full well I almost put Tetris 99 in this spot)? After initial frustration, Slay The Spire's various baddies are like old friends now - they're familiar, I've learned their rhythms. The cards and relics aren't mysteries to me anymore. Its delightful weirdness is old hat. And yet I find myself returning to it time and time again because it's just so clever, and it makes me feel clever - when I pay attention to it, when I'm not zoning out and just enjoying the jour