Battle royal for mobile
PUBG Mobile is a free-to-play battle royale shooter game developed by Tencent Games. As the mobile version of the hit PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, this game brings all the fun and action of the original hit video game into mobile devices.
Ambushed on Sanhok, I pulled a drop-shot and quick-swapped to the DP-28; the touch controls on my Android felt snappy and precise. Visual cues and footstep audio make fights readable, and peeking offers just enough of a dodge window to juke sprays. A tossed Molotov cleared a stairwell and lit up the kill feed, while later I lined up a clean headshot through a 4x optic. Matches are brisk, perfect for short Android sessions.
This game is largely similar to other action games for mobile such as Call of Duty: Mobile and Rules of Survival, bringing together a huge number of players in a large map. These players then gather resources like weapons and resources and try to survive as the stage continuously shrinks.
Bring the PUBG goodness on the go
With its graphics and features, expect PUBG Mobile to take quite a chunk of your storage space–anywhere between 1.5 to 2GB of storage space including its updates. However, as long as your device can handle the app’s system requirements, you won’t experience any problems running it and enjoying the game. Users will immediately feel the action, showing your customizable character and offers for in-app purchases. An easily visible and accessible feature, however, is the “START” button, which sets you up for matchmaking.
As far as gameplay goes, it retains all the complexities and the actions of the original game even in its mobile version. It sports a realistic and interactive environment, such as plants that move when you pass through them as well as vehicles you can ride around the map and even use to eliminate other players by running through them. It offers smooth animation graphics, which can be seen as you do different actions such as running, crawling, and jumping over obstacles.
It also compresses the full keyboard control from PCs to intuitive mobile control. With a movement-focused joystick on the left side of the screen and a set of action buttons on the right. This can be modified in the settings to adapt to left-handed players or those that need larger buttons. Regardless, it will still take some time to get used to these controls, especially with the fast-paced action that the game offers.
A challenging experience
Aside from the steep learning curve, especially for new players, regular players will still have to contend with a growing problem in PUBG Mobile: cheaters. These are players that use third-party apps that affect the gameplay to their cause, giving them unfair advantages. Cheats include detecting enemies on the radar, moving abnormally fast, and aim hacks that make sure every bullet they fire hits an opponent.
Another persisting concern is the connectivity issues that plague the multiplayer game. Even if you have a stable internet connection, it doesn’t assure you that you won’t get disconnected in the middle of the game. While reconnecting shouldn’t be an issue, in a fast-paced, real-time game such as this, the time you spent away from the game might as well be an opportunity for enemies to pick you out and loot your helpless character.
PUBG Mobile x Transformers collab update
The newest update in the game, titled the PUBG Mobile x Transformers collaboration, runs from July 8 to September 2, with it bringing a themed mode and outfits inspired by Optimus Prime and Megatron. In Classic Mode, you can collect a Spacebridge Beacon to summon and control these iconic bots in both vehicle and robot forms, completely changing your battle strategies.
Adding to the overall Transformers experience, you'll get to pilot Optimus Prime's semi-truck or Megatron's tank, then switch to robot form to unleash their exclusive skills like Optimus Prime's axe or Megatron's cannon. This allows for devastating combos and strategic plays, even enabling you to potentially win a 1v4 in the Final Playzone, given that you will use this advantage wisely and strategically.
Beyond the Transformers content, the update adds the ASM Abakan to Classic Mode with three firing modes, and brings various firearm attachment adjustments for faster reloading and improved stability. You can also try the new WOW Summer Showdown map, Metro Royale's Zombie Uprising 2.0, and climb ranks in Ranked Arena. A new 3D Social Lobby - Hub lets you socialize on a vibrant beach.
Winner, winner chicken dinner
One of the best battle royale games available, PUBG Mobile pushes the limits of your device to bring you a lifelike survival experience. Of course, it comes with a hefty storage requirement but that’s to be expected from games like this. It’s definitely worth it, with its great translation of the game for mobile devices. While it still has its problems, such as cheaters and connectivity issues, these are not widely prevalent and you can still enjoy a good battle royale game.
