Available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One, download only.
Teams of 3 players, online only.
All fashions work in cycles. Just as bananas and high-waisted jeans resurface from the depths of the 1990s, video games, too, are subject to the swell of trends. Relentlessly, a new groundswell dislodges the previous one, and even a tsunami like Fortnite will eventually lose its footing. The only question is when.
Apex Legends could be that new wave. It is also a Battle Royale, the type of game in which dozens of players must fight each other until only one team is left at the end. Where Fortnite brought together a hundred competitors, Apex reduces the number to sixty, grouped in teams of three. The principle remains the same: after a free fall onto an island whose surface gradually shrinks, everyone rushes to pick up weapons and equipment before preparing for the showdown. A match can thus last twenty minutes at most, but can also end very quickly after a bad encounter. This is important information when it comes to setting a limit on your teenager’s playing time. Be careful, however: where Fortnite offered colourful graphics and a zany atmosphere, Apex is darker, more photo-realistic and therefore automatically falls into the PEGI 16 category. There is still no blood on screen, but edgier fights and a more serious design make it a game aimed at a more mature audience.
Caption: in less than a month, Apex has already attracted more than 50 million players.
Let’s not sound the death knell for Fortnite too soon. The studio behind it, Epic, quickly counter-attacked by offering the latest version of the famous “battle pass” for free, while Apex was also arriving at no cost. No need to get out your wallet, then? Not so sure, since in both cases the bread and butter comes from selling characters, costumes, replicas and so on. So beware of credit cards that may get a little too hot.
Caption: Apex is played in first-person view.
Apex stands out above all through its use of distinct roles, each player filling a more specific function in their team. Everything happens quite fast, and this intensity also carries over to the players, so watch out for noisy outbursts in the event of defeat. My recent visits to schools have shown me that while Fortnite is still very present, enthusiasm for Apex is gently spreading. It seems important to keep an eye on this rising tide and to make sure that the young sailors are really fit to put to sea.
To discover the game and its content by watching other players, follow this link: https://www.twitch.tv/directory/game/Apex%20Legends
He works in Switzerland on the topic of excessive screen use, notably with families. He uses video games as a therapeutic tool and keeps a close eye on developments in the medium (new releases, trends, impacts, etc.). Alongside his professional activities, he voluntarily runs a game review website (www.semperludo.com), as well as a nationwide gamers’ association (www.gamingfederation.ch), through which they aim for responsible video game practice.
Twitter: @niels_weber, @semperludo, @GamingFed
