Adib Noor
I’ve never been a huge fan of first-person shooter games. In my teenage years I’d put time into Counter Strike at Internet cafes but that was it. That is – until I found Apex Legends on the PlayStation Store back in 2019 and became hooked.
Over the years, however, bloated online servers and my lacklustre Internet connection have meant that I would go months without even logging-in.
But now Apex Legends is back in my life, thanks to the recently released Apex Legends Mobile on the Apple App Store.
Apex Legends is a hero-based battle-royale game.
Players choose different characters (the titular ‘Legends’), each with their own unique abilities. They are then grouped into teams, and they compete against other teams on a large open map to be the last ones standing.
Apex Legends Mobile is more than just the original game simplified for mobile. It feels like its own game, offering its own exclusive Legends, a Team Deathmatch mode absent from the console and PC versions, and – most importantly – the ability to log in from anywhere and play ranked matches instantly.
It has no reason to be as good as it is. Existing precedent would suggest that when a full console or PC game is converted into a mobile version, it will be watered down – it will not only look worse and play worse, but also have fewer features.
The obvious graphical limitations are unavoidable, but the fact that it has controller-support is a major win for someone like me. As soon as it was available on the App store, I downloaded the game on my iPad and linked up my PlayStation controller via Bluetooth with a push of a button.
“I think the mobile version has given an opportunity for those who do not own a console or a PC to have a crack at the game. The mobile adaptation is an exact copy of the original PC game or as close as it can be for me,” said fellow player and my loyal teammate Khairul.
The biggest problem perhaps is that whatever you choose to play the game with will heat up pretty quickly. But I choose to see this as a blessing in disguise, as it limits my play time, without which the game would quickly turn into an addiction.
“I’ve tried other mobile shooting games such as Rules of Survival, Call of Duty Mobile and PUBG Mobile, but something about Apex Legends Mobile really got me hooked.
“I have spent hundred of hours playing PUBG Mobile. In comparison, the gameplay in Apex is way faster and more complicated.
“Each Legend has unique abilities which affect how you approach every game. Not to mention the Executions (a special animation when eliminating other players) are far more satisfying than in other games,” said Khairul, who was once an exclusive PUBG Mobile player.
“Besides the high-paced, adrenaline-pumping gameplay atypical in battle-royales, the graphics are arguably the best of any mobile shooting game out now.
“There are minor bugs and glitches which is understandable since the game has been out for less than two months, and there are regular updates to improve the game,” added Khairul.
Apex Legends has lots in store for players, with rewards for completing game challenges.
One notable recent surprise was the Aidiladha rewards package that felt like the game, and its developer, was recognising its Muslim players.
With the game out for less than two months and already showing major potential, me, my team mates and other local Apex Legends Mobile players are looking forward to how the game will grow and captivate new and old players alike.
