Mavericks: Proving Grounds vs The Culling
Mavericks: Proving Grounds
Mavericks: Proving Grounds is an ambitious, 400-player battle royale game that includes some form of virtual world game elements to make it more social. What do we mean by that? Well, basically, there's a central, social hub where you can meet, chat and interact with other players. Similar to a virtual world game or an MMORPG, there are shops manned by NPCs here along with a nice selection of mini-games for you to enjoy during your downtimes outside of the "Proving Grounds". There's even a shooting range for you to test your skills.In terms of gameplay, Mavericks: Proving Grounds provides a massive 16km x 16km-sized map, which is dubbed as the Isle of Dern, that's filled with immaculate details like buildings, forests and the like. You'll then search these locations for chests or boxes containing the weapons or tools you need Considering the vastness of the map, there are vehicles you can drive around too.
Admittedly, it's pretty much similar to PUBG in many ways, but what truly makes this game unique is its physically-sound destructible environments. For instance, let's say an enemy is taking pot-shots at you from a forest but you can't see where he is... all you need to do is light the entire place on fire and smoke him out. There are also special specialist hardware that are powerful to use but can be really hard to find. These items will give you more strategic opportunities to get at your opponents.
The game has a bit of RPG in it mainly due to its emphasis on narrative and how every battle you fight in may determine the fate of the world. Through a unique reputation system, you can fight for the faction of your choice, either The Capital or one of The Factions, by completing achievements or simply by performing well in-game. Naturally, each faction provides you with their own sets of benefits.
Mavericks will be free-to-play once it is officially released, but it will also offer a premium, citizenship program. Likely a subscription program, having a citizenship will grant you some perks, allowing you to say earn more in-game currency and prestige, access to premium cosmetics and more.
So, if you enjoy battle royale games, you'll want to try this game! You can do so right now if you purchase a Founder's pack, or you can try your luck getting into the game's beta testing by signing up as a tester on the website.
The Culling
The Culling is, in many ways, a potentially great PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds alternative game. In fact, many would say that this is perhaps the very first standalone, battle royale game that is inspired directly from the Hunger Games. As such, you'll expect a pretty brutal arena set on a remote island where players will not only need to explore the foreign land to scavenge for resources but also to craft a wide variety of weapons, traps and tools just so you can ambush your fellow players. Naturally, being battle royale and all, the last man standing will be the victor.Each match can contain up to 16 contestants (and yes, like Hunger Games, The Culling is apparently a game show) and the game lasts for around 20 minutes. There is also a tutorial, a training mode where you play against AI bots, and a special 8-player Lightning Round where players get access to the best weapons early on in the game. As a game show, the "organizers" will often spice things up with special in-match events that have some pretty crucial rewards too. Like the Hunger Games, players can also each call in an airdrop (a.k.a. "care package") containing valuable items but getting to that airdrop in one piece without having your stuff stolen before you reach there can be quite a challenge in itself.
Now, unlike PUBG's shooter-heavy gameplay, The Culling has a more visceral, action-based, melee-oriented gameplay that will make every successful kill a very satisfying one. Don't get me wrong - the game does have ranged options like bows and guns but having a firearm or any ranged weapons may not be an advantage if you don't know how to keep your distance. Players can easily be disarmed of their ranged weapon if they are ambushed by a melee player, and of course, if you missed your aim, you may not have a second shot.
However, due to a plague of problems between the developers and its community, The Culling seems to be a pretty dead game at the moment and hence, finding a match can be quite difficult. Similar to PUBG, The Culling is not a free game either and this game is on the pricey end considering its almost non-existant player base.