Last Man Standing vs Mavericks: Proving Grounds
Last Man Standing
Last Man Standing is a battle royale game that is similar to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) in many ways, including graphically and gameplay-wise, but you often have to remind yourself that being a free-to-play version, this game does have its own set of flaws. For starters, although the map in this game is as vast as PUBG's, there are no vehicles in Last Man Standing, forcing you to travel large distances on foot. There isn't any bullet tracers or obvious muzzle flashes in this game either so it can be quite difficult for you to pin-point from where you are being shot at.Some players also report having frame rate drops which may indicate poor game optimization and well, since there isn't any anti-cheat in the game, you will have to content with having some cheaters in the game (still less than 50% of the time though). Matchmaking takes quite some time as well since the player base in this game is obviously a lot less than PUBG or even Fortnite Battle Royale.
That said, the game has some redeeming qualities aside from being free-to-play, such as having a fun and sometimes intense and competitive gameplay; insanely in-depth character customizations where you can earn more outfits and clothes by playing; a nice arsenal of weapons that you can find and use, including the very useful riot shield-like barriers; multiple game modes (solo, duo and team-based), and more.
So, Last Man Standing is a pretty decent alternative - the free-to-play sort - if you're looking to play a game that's more similar to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds rather than the more cartoonish-looking Fortnite Battle Royale. Granted that this game isn't at all perfect and that apparently the devs won't be patching this game up anytime soon, this is the best you'll probably get!
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.