After a dizzying barrage of souped-up monster vans, Magneto gloves, and the ability of literal Greek Gods, Fortnite is returning to its roots. On Nov. 7, the the builders launched the Chapter 2 Remix season. This patch reboots the 2019 Chapter 2 Season 1 map and introduces just a few new areas and twists from the unique model. Its slightly-stripped down merchandise pool, easier map, and new forged of rappers like Ice Spice, Eminem, and Snoop Dogg make this season a good time to hop again into the sport even in the event you’re an irregular or informal participant.

Right here’s why this season is so good, as illustrated by an anecdote from enjoying.

In duos, my buddy (sporting the Vi pores and skin from Arcane) and I (dressed as a woman sporting shark PJs) made a last-minute choice to land on the Dogg Pound. After a failed face scan, we received pulled right into a gun battle with Snoop Dogg himself, received, after which recruited him as an NPC ally to affix our group. Collectively, we plundered his granite and gold-gilded mansion for weapons, after which celebrated by dancing on a pile of information within the rapper’s vault. We left the compound to move nearer to the following storm circle, however upon approaching a seashore, a personality wielding a gun that rattles off Eminem verses as an alternative of bullet sounds, killed us. It was wonderful.

Fortnite fairly actually adjustments with the seasons. Relying on the merchandise pool, map, and general idea, a sure model of the sport may attraction to totally different sorts of gamers. For me, a great Fortnite season is one which isn’t afraid to lean into foolish, playful parts, however doesn’t overwhelm gamers with a chaotic merchandise pool. I like distinctive and considerate gadgets — just like the Eminem minigun — but it surely’s fairly simple for the builders to go overboard.

The group at Epic Video games has to stroll the tightrope that’s attempting to get Fortnite proper. It’s an absurd recreation that always advantages from “doing essentially the most,” i.e. smashing collectively tons of parts collectively to supply some sort of joyful fever dream. However between being pushed over by monster vans, and being obliterated by Magneto’s Energy Gloves, and so… many… different… super-powered gadgets, I simply couldn’t cope with it anymore. Even after I cherished the theme, like Avatar: The Final Airbender, it felt just like the core of what I like about this recreation received just a little bit misplaced within the sauce.

There was additionally so much occurring exterior the formal battle royale recreation. Previously yr, Epic Video games has launched all types of different video games on the Fortnite platform. All of a sudden, gamers had the choice to play a rhythm recreation, a racing recreation from a part of the Rocket League group, and a complete dang Minecraft-esque Lego survival recreation. (And that is all along with a whole slew of different player-made creations, and different experimenting with video games like Fall Guys.) It’s good to supply new choices, however on the finish of the day, none of these video games modified the truth that I logged on to play a goofy shooter.

I’m not even nostalgic for the OG Fortnite. I simply suppose it’s higher. It offers the builders an excuse to return to a lot of the core gameplay of the shooter that makes it shine by actually turning again the clock and restoring among the outdated map and gadgets. By including some new parts — like Snoop Dogg and Eminem gadgets and areas — the builders have struck an incredible steadiness between outdated and new content material. And personally, I believe it’s a adequate cause to spherical up all my friends to drop on it for this shortened month-long season.