Apex Legends
- November 4, 2020
- Respawn
- 380h median play time
"Apex Legends" is a free-to-play hero shooter set in a rugged world, where players team up in squads of legendary characters with unique abilities to battle for fame and fortune. The game features strategic squad play, an ever-growing roster of diverse characters, and a variety of modes including Battle Royale. In-game purchases are available.
Reviews
- gameplay10,878 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Apex Legends" is widely praised for its fluid movement mechanics, engaging gunplay, and strategic depth, making it a standout in the battle royale genre. Players appreciate the unique abilities of the diverse roster of characters, which add layers of strategy and teamwork to matches. However, many reviews also highlight persistent issues such as unbalanced matchmaking, server instability, and a focus on monetization over gameplay improvements, which detract from the overall experience.
“Apex Legends stands out in the crowded battle royale genre with its unique blend of fast-paced action, strategic gameplay, and rich character lore.”
“The movement mechanics, including sliding, climbing, and the use of ziplines, are fluid and responsive, making traversal a joy.”
“The gameplay in Apex Legends is exceptionally polished, delivering an exhilarating experience that keeps players engaged.”
“It's sad to say that the game is run by greed with almost no progression, a buggy game engine, and repetitive gameplay.”
“The gameplay gets worse with every update, and I notice major performance issues, especially the first time you play with every new update.”
“The current state of the game is inherently non-competitive, seeking to trap you in a gameplay loop and push microtransactions.”
- graphics3,616 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Apex Legends" are widely praised for their stunning visuals, vibrant art style, and detailed environments, which enhance the overall gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the game's ability to run smoothly even on lower-end systems, although some report performance issues and graphical glitches. Overall, the game's aesthetic appeal, combined with its dynamic gameplay and character design, makes it a standout in the battle royale genre.
“The graphics are stunning, showcasing vibrant landscapes, detailed character models, and breathtaking special effects.”
“The visuals are stunning, with beautifully designed maps like Kings Canyon and World's Edge offering a perfect mix of open spaces and intricate interiors.”
“The game's art style strikes a balance between realism and a more stylized, futuristic aesthetic, which is visually appealing without overwhelming the player’s senses.”
“The graphics are outdated, making it hard to even enjoy the environments you're supposed to be immersed in.”
“The graphics are so bad that objects that aren’t rendered in show up as a dark purple.”
“The graphics are subpar, with textures and animations looking unpolished and outdated.”
- monetization2,518 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 45 % negative mentions
The monetization of Apex Legends has drawn widespread criticism for being excessively aggressive and predatory, with many players describing it as a blatant cash grab by EA. The introduction of multiple currencies, high-priced cosmetics, and a recent shift to requiring real money for battle passes has left the community feeling exploited and frustrated. While the game remains free-to-play, the overwhelming focus on microtransactions and the lack of meaningful content updates have significantly detracted from the overall experience, leading many long-time players to abandon the game.
“The aggressive monetization is a huge turn-off.”
“While apex legends is free-to-play, some feel the monetization strategy is overly aggressive, pushing players towards expensive skins without adding value to gameplay.”
“The game's monetization model is also a point of contention.”
“This game has turned into a cash grab to the highest degree.”
“I am quitting this game after years of it being slowly killed by its own dev team, overmonetization like crazy, and nothing is done to fix all ongoing issues.”
“Has one of if not the best core gameplay of a battle royale but it's unfortunately overshadowed by EA's greedy monetization practices.”
- story2,130 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story aspect of Apex Legends has received mixed reviews from players. Many appreciate the rich lore and character backstories that connect to the Titanfall universe, highlighting the depth and complexity of each legend's narrative. However, some players feel that the storytelling has diminished over time, with a shift towards monetization and less engaging content, leading to a perception that the game prioritizes gameplay over a cohesive story experience. Overall, while the game offers intriguing character arcs and seasonal narratives, the execution and depth of the story have left some players wanting more.
“Amazing game with a fascinating story behind it!”
“Beyond the gameplay, Apex Legends brings a surprising depth of character and story.”
“The narrative, though secondary to the action, provides a compelling backdrop with its well-developed characters and gripping story arcs.”
“Barring that, they've lost the entire plot of their ongoing story - it's a cluster of forgotten plotlines, connecting to Titanfall 2 nostalgia bait and MCU levels of dialogue.”
“The story has gone from S tier to complete garbage. The storytelling from previous seasons has both gotten stale and lame in presentation.”
“The game is well crafted, well constructed you can tell the devs care, especially with hot fixes and all the content they try to provide to people who like the story or just like the game.”
- stability1,607 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The stability of Apex Legends has been widely criticized, with players reporting a plethora of bugs, glitches, and server issues that significantly disrupt gameplay. Many users experience frequent crashes, freezes, and audio problems, particularly after updates, leading to a frustrating gaming experience. Despite occasional improvements, the game's persistent instability and the developers' slow response to fixing these issues have left many players feeling disappointed and frustrated.
“This game is a lot more fun than I thought it would be; it runs smooth, no glitches or lag, plus my kids love it.”
“The game runs great on last-gen consoles with 60 fps most of the time and is also capped at 144 fps on PC.”
“Runs great, looks great, plays great, which is what matters for FPS games on PC.”
“The game is plagued with bugs and glitches.”
“Can't even play the game anymore; it glitches out. The new update made the game unplayable.”
“It's a buggy mess, filled with cheaters, and the company is just trying to get money out of its players.”
- optimization1,522 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The optimization of Apex Legends has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, lag, and crashes, particularly after updates. While some users note that the game runs smoothly on high-end systems, others struggle with low frame rates and poor server performance, especially on lower-end hardware. Overall, the game's optimization appears to be inconsistent, with many players expressing frustration over the lack of improvements despite the game's potential.
“The game is well optimized and runs really well.”
“Apex legends boasts impressive visuals and performance, providing an immersive and smooth gaming experience.”
“The game's optimized performance, captivating gameplay mechanics, stunning visuals, and welcoming community make it an essential addition to any battle royale enthusiast's library.”
“I just can't ignore the performance issues and complete lack of respect for the player base.”
“The performance was slowly degrading, but recently it went straight to unplayable.”
“Terribly optimized and unplayable game where even the game client won't get past the start screen and automatically shuts down by itself.”
- humor1,419 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The humor in Apex Legends is a mixed bag, with many players highlighting the game's witty character interactions and funny voice lines that enhance the overall experience. While some find joy in the chaotic and unpredictable nature of gameplay, others express frustration over the game's issues, often using humor as a coping mechanism for the challenges they face, such as server problems and matchmaking frustrations. Overall, the game's comedic elements, particularly when played with friends, contribute to its appeal, making it a source of both laughter and exasperation.
“Apex Legends is a wild ride of fast-paced action, tactical gameplay, and hilarious missteps.”
“The game's humor and witty dialogue add a whole new level of enjoyment.”
“The characters have funny voice lines as well.”
“Incredibly cheesy and sometimes unfunny dialogue.”
“An unfunny joke.”
“Very unfunny game.”
- grinding1,009 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 73 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of Apex Legends is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to invest significant hours to unlock characters and cosmetics. Many players express frustration over the monetization strategies that prioritize spending real money over grinding, leading to a perception that the game is designed more for profit than enjoyment. Overall, while some players appreciate the challenge and sense of achievement that comes with grinding, the overwhelming sentiment is that it detracts from the overall gaming experience, making it feel like a second job rather than a fun pastime.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“One long, tedious grind.”
“Honestly, this has made me very reluctant to play battle royale in general because I feel season passes rely too much on FOMO, and as free-to-play, grinding just isn't worth it for cosmetics. The value of fun has been lost in favor of toxicity.”
“The amount of grinding in this game daresay exceeds that of Genshin, and that's a very big thing to say, trust my AR60 ass.”
“After 1300 hours of gameplay, many dollars spent on cosmetics, and multiple seasons of grinding to masters, I can say that I'm very disappointed with EA and Respawn's decision to prioritize profit over experience.”
- music533 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its dynamic and immersive quality, enhancing the overall gameplay experience with a variety of soundtracks that fit the action well. While some players find the music to be a highlight, others criticize it for being repetitive or overshadowed by gameplay noise, leading to a mixed reception. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing to its atmosphere and enjoyment.
“The game's dynamic music and voice lines add a cinematic flair to matches.”
“Great characters, great mobility, fantastic gunplay, excellent music.”
“The soundtrack, with its pulsating electronic beats, complements the intense action, while the sound effects are sharp and impactful.”
“The music in this game goes absolutely crazy, not just the default but so many of the music packs too.”
“The sound effects are muddled and unclear, and the music is overly repetitive and uninspiring.”
“The music is not particularly noteworthy; it is functional and fits the game well, but it is unlikely to be memorable.”
- emotional364 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is a significant point of contention among players, with many expressing feelings of frustration, heartbreak, and emotional distress due to its competitive nature and perceived decline in quality. While some players find moments of joy and connection through the game's characters and community, the overwhelming sentiment is one of emotional turmoil, with many stating they feel drained or even regretful after playing. Overall, the game is described as an emotional rollercoaster that can lead to both attachment and disappointment, often leaving players questioning their investment in it.
“Why is it that when I start playing this game, it makes me want to cry?”
“It's heartbreaking to witness a game with such potential being crippled by poor management and blatant corporate greed.”
“I've never been so emotionally invested in a game's story before.”
“Ever since the original team left, the game has only gone downhill with cosmetic updates and a boring story to go along with it.”
- character development252 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Character development in Apex Legends is a mixed bag, with many players praising the unique and visually appealing character designs that contribute to the game's immersive experience. While some appreciate the depth of lore and the distinct personalities of each legend, others criticize the character designs as unattractive or overly complex, leading to a divide in player opinions. Overall, the game's commitment to character development and storytelling is recognized as a significant strength, despite some dissatisfaction with specific design choices.
“The character development in this game is so well-crafted; you really connect with them.”
“One of the standout features that deserves a standing ovation is the character design – or lack thereof, in the 'sexy' department.”
“The meticulous attention to detail extends to the character designs, ensuring that each legend not only plays differently but also embodies a unique personality that resonates with players.”
“The character design is the most appalling of any hero shooter I've seen to date.”
“The only thing that has changed is that a diverse and interesting roster is now a homogeneous sludge of micro-transactions and bland character designs.”
“The character design in this game also continues to get worse and more frustrating.”
- replayability215 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
Apex Legends is widely praised for its high replayability, attributed to its dynamic gameplay, diverse roster of characters, and regular content updates, including new legends and limited-time events. Players appreciate the variety in gameplay experiences, with rotating maps and unique abilities that keep the game feeling fresh and engaging. However, some users express concerns about potential burnout and server issues, which can affect the overall experience.
“Apex Legends offers high replayability due to its dynamic and fast-paced nature.”
“With a range of multiplayer modes and ongoing content updates, the game offers substantial replay value.”
“The game's replayability is off the charts; I keep coming back for more.”
“No replayability, didn't get my money's worth.”
“The game itself is very fun and is a good game, but the real problem is with how this game is handled, the servers are terrible and are not playable at times and if they are playable some days they lag a ton or they straight up seem fine yet your shots do not register and you end up doing zero damage with a shotgun right up in someone's face.”
“This game pulled me into PC gaming... spent a ton of hours playing it because it was a fun game... but now it's not Apex Legends, but skin legends... ton of skins, horrible servers, horrible matchmaking, not good enough anti-cheat, forgotten legends that hadn't had a buff since a long time ago.”
- atmosphere106 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is often praised for its stunning graphics, immersive sound design, and unique environments that enhance the overall experience. However, some players express disappointment with the current state of the atmosphere, citing issues like toxic behavior in the community, predatory monetization practices, and a lack of engaging content that detracts from the game's initial charm. Overall, while the game offers a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere, it is marred by external factors that can diminish player enjoyment.
“The atmospheric design of Apex Legends contributes significantly to its appeal, combining elements of sci-fi and action in a compelling way.”
“From the lush landscapes of Kings Canyon to the futuristic cityscape of Olympus, each map is meticulously designed and offers a unique atmosphere.”
“Dynamic movement mechanics, intense team fighting, and an overall overwhelming atmosphere make Apex Legends one of the best FPS games I've ever played.”
“Unfortunately, my encounters with several individuals who favored the character known as Caustic, often exhibiting toxic behavior, only added to the distressing atmosphere.”
“The toxic community, rampant smurfing, inconsistent matchmaking, predatory monetization practices, and unreliable servers create an overwhelming atmosphere of disillusionment.”
“The atmosphere suffered, with multiplayer gameplay pivoting away from the atmospheric AI to more of a pure shooter.”