Fortnite’s OG Season was a mesmerizing trip down memory lane that left me with both an overwhelming sense of nostalgia as well as a new found appreciation for my childhood game. As a longtime player, revisiting the origins of the game was a truly magical experience. I picked up the game when I was in fifth grade, and made some of the best memories of my life playing with my friends. At the time, nobody realized the game we all loved would evolve into something completely different. When I heard I had one last opportunity to relive my childhood, I had no choice but to play.
The first thing that struck me was the simplicity of the original game. Six years ago Fortnite was not burdened by the plethora of items, weapons, and cosmetic options we have today. The game's appeal was strictly in its straightforward gameplay and thrill of fighting with other players. When I dropped onto the island for the first time, I couldn't help but marvel at the iconicness of the surroundings- each location an echo of the past.
As less and less people remained, I felt adrenaline coursing through my veins as I competed to be the last alive. The limited set of weapons available in the OG Season added an element of unpredictability in battles. Every encounter I had was a unique experience, every shot fired a memory once locked away brought back to light. I enjoyed the lack of overpowered items, as obtaining victory was based more on skill than the luck of finding a certain weapon.
In the initial state of the game, building was a novel concept - every ramp and wall placed felt like an architectural masterpiece. It is not an understatement to say the building aspect of the game has evolved since 2018. However, I wanted to re-experience a simpler time when building was an oddity, simply choosing to que into the zero-build game mode made available for the season. Epic Games’ commitment to a reboot, harkening the olden days, was evident in the detail brought back in the OG Season. I was amazed to see every minor feature players loved, whether it be from small unnamed locations, to iconic skins and cosmetics returning to the shop, had appeared to have returned for the Season.
The OG Season was more than just a trip down memory lane, it was a commemoration of Fortnite’s evolution as a video game. During the initial launch day of the season, over 44.7 million people logged on that day alone. That Saturday night, I reconnected with old friends I hadn't spoken to in years, and got to relive those fifth grade Friday nights once more.
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