Games
The new game mode makes PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds even more stressful, but we've dropped in without a camera over our shoulders and lived to tell the tale. Here are our tips.
For veteran PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds gamers, the honeymoon was drawing to an end – things were starting to get a bit stale. They knew the best weapon combinations to use, they knew every single spot on the map and they knew how to take fights without being at risk themselves. These players they needed something new to sink their teeth into, something that would totally change how the game plays, and fortunately the dev team has delivered, adding new first-person perspective servers this month that change everything.
That may be a bit of an overstatement, as technically the only thing that's changed is the view you have of the world. Everything else, from the map to the loot and the objective, is still exactly as it was. But that doesn't quite convey what first person does change. While this is still very much the same game, the new viewpoint changes how you have to play every situation. No longer can you rely on a god's eye view to peer round corners; no more can you hide in the bushes and pop up to attack.
So what can you do instead? With more than a few successful rounds in the new first-person servers, we've devised some important tips to help you succeed.
The FOV can be changed
We wish we knew this the first time we booted up the first-person servers, as we started to feel a little queasy once we hit the ground. It's fair to say that the first-person view isn't optimised overly well, meaning that those who don't get on too well with motion sickness in games will probably struggle. Fortunately you can adjust the field of view a little, and that should make things slightly better for most.
Some believe this can also give a competitive edge. Expanding the FOV to max will allow you to see a wider area with your default view. It may only be a few degrees here and there, but that extra field of view might be what you need to spot an enemy before they see you. Fiddle with this until you find your prefered setting, and from there on out it should be smooth(er) sailing.
Check your corners
The generous camera angle in third-person servers means that you can often see round corners and over cover without having to expose yourself. With first person, you can't really do that so now it's more important than ever to check your corners. Everyone knows that you can no longer peer round the edge of a wall without beeing seen so if they think they're in danger, they'll probably sit in a corner and hope you don't notice them as you walk around and then shoot you in the back.
The best way to avoid this is to check your corners all the time. If you enter a building, don't just run into a room, snap from one corner to the next and hope that you manage to see your foe before they see you. Getting into a habit of doing this will mean that you end up with fewer irritating game overs where you know you could have won the fight.
Use Q and E to lean
You'd be surprised at how many people don't know that you can use the Q and E keys to lean left and right respectively. Holding one of these keys will allow you to poke your head out a little, without exposing your whole body, and in the first-person servers this is the perfect way to stay safe.
If you think someone is in the same building, then you can use this to peek through a doorway quickly to check those all important corners. Sure, if they're a dead shot they'll still hit you, but it's a lot less risky than just running in. Use this to hold angles while still being safe, and if you manage to find a level-three helmet then you can do this as aggressively as you want for the most part.
Be aggressive
This'll come down to personal preference more than anything, but we've found that on average, playing the aggressor works out quite well. This could be because the servers are new and people are still getting to grips with things, but we think this'll remain a constant trend. If you notice a single person drops near you, then grab a weapon and go and hunt them straight away. If you see a person running towards you, take the shots, and if you hear a vehicle going past then try and take out a wheel or two.
The first-person perspective makes it a lot harder to notice where a shot is coming from, so even if you don't get the kill you can probably just hide and still keep safe. However, we have noticed that a lot of players simply aren't prepared to fight in this mode; many like to try and stay under the radar until the dying moments, so that presents a great chance to rack up some kills.
Use the ALT key a lot
While Q and E are great for peeking round corners, they aren't much help when you want to look in the totally opposite direction. Fortunately the ALT key still has a function in these servers, and it can be very useful. In third person you can hold ALT to look in any direction, regardless of the way you are facing. In first person it's a little more restricted, but it's effectively swiveling your head to the right or left. You can continue to run North while looking East, which is pretty important when you're running across an open field. This allows you to spot anyone else that may be running alongside you, and can give you a ton of extra information. The more you use this the more info you have; just be sure to remember what's directly in front of you is typically way more important than what's 400m to your left.
Playing in buildings is way more viable now
As a solo or duo in third person, playing within a building, especially on the upper floor, was always a risk. The weird camera angle could often give those pushing up from downstairs an advantage, as they would be able to spot you above them before you spot them down the stairs. In first person this is no longer the case, so camping it out in a building is way more viable than before. Position yourself well at the top of the stairs and there's a good chance you can mow down anyone coming your way before they reach the top. It's not a foolproof strategy – hello grenades – but it works a lot better than in third person.