Ep 2. PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds

Zero Punctuation is a weekly video game review series, hosted by the acerbic and fast-talking YouTube personality known as Yahtzee. In the second episode of season 12, Yahtzee tackles one of the biggest buzz games of recent years: PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.

For those who haven't yet heard of it, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, or PUBG for short, is a massively multiplayer online battle royale game where up to 100 players are dropped onto an island and must fight to be the last one standing. The game has become a sensation, with millions of players worldwide and even professional players competing in tournaments with huge cash prizes.

Yahtzee opens with his usual scathing wit, declaring PUBG to be "a natural extension of humanity's will to climb over piles of corpses to get to the top". He goes on to describe the game's premise, mechanics, and history, all while peppering his commentary with his trademark snarky remarks and pop culture references.

As Yahtzee delves into the game's nitty-gritty, he notes that while PUBG has received many accolades and sold millions of copies, it's not without its flaws. For one thing, the game suffers from lag and optimization issues, particularly on lower-end machines. Yahtzee also criticizes the game's graphics, calling them "unremarkable" and saying they look like they were made "by someone who's never seen a tree or a rock before".

Despite these shortcomings, Yahtzee does acknowledge the game's strengths. One of PUBG's great appeals, he notes, is its randomness and unpredictability. Players never know what weapons or loot they'll find, where the circle will close in, or how other players will behave. This creates moments of tension and excitement that can be genuinely thrilling.

Yahtzee also praises PUBG's emphasis on strategy and survival. Unlike other shooters where players can simply respawn and keep going, in PUBG death is permanent. This raises the stakes and forces players to think more strategically about how they approach each encounter. Do they try to avoid combat and hide until the end? Do they go on a killing spree and hope to take out as many opponents as possible? Do they rush the center of the circle or stay on the periphery?

As Yahtzee explains, PUBG can be both exhilarating and frustrating, sometimes within the same match. He recounts several of his own experiences playing the game, from narrowly escaping death to getting sniped from across the map to accidentally killing his own teammate. He also dives into some of the game's more absurd moments, like when players dress up in silly costumes or try to recreate scenes from movies and TV shows.

Yet for all its flaws and quirks, Yahtzee admits that there's something uniquely compelling about PUBG. He compares it to a "gladiator arena" where players face off against each other in a battle for survival. The adrenaline rush of taking out an opponent, the tense moments of hiding from foes, and the eventual rush of emerging victorious all combine to make it an addictive experience.

In the end, Yahtzee gives PUBG a mixed review. While he acknowledges its flaws and frustrations, he also recognizes its potential for fun and excitement. He concludes by declaring PUBG to be "a janky, uneven game that somehow manages to be greater than the sum of its parts", and recommends it to anyone looking for a unique and challenging multiplayer experience.

Overall, this episode of Zero Punctuation is a sharp and insightful look at one of the most popular games of recent years. Yahtzee's blend of humor, analysis, and personal anecdotes make for a lively and entertaining review that's sure to please fans of the game and newcomers alike.