PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds - Cardio Is Essential

You really never know what's going to happen when you load up a game of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and in this particular match, I definitely saw a lot more action that I usually do. While getting kills is definitely fun in Battlegrounds, the ultimate goal is to be the last person standing, and I attempt to achieve that goal by whatever means necessary. Some of my best matches, (#2 is the best that I've ever achieved; multiple times I might add) tend to be more on the boring side since sometimes I make it to the top 10 without even seeing anybody. So many factors go into winning a game of Battlegrounds and in this match, I happened to drop into a highly populated city, that turned into quite a bloodbath. Although I didn't win (spoiler), this was one of the most exciting matches that I've played yet. Sadly I didn't even get close to winning, but I definitely took some people out along my journey, and that's all that matters at the end of the day, isn't it? Or is it winning? Or having fun? Ah well.

At the beginning of my match, I parachuted on the edge of the small town, and upon dropping, the buildings were not fully rendered yet. Luckily, at the last second, the Battlegrounds gods took pity on me and decided to render the buildings and grant me access to an assortment of loot. From the first building I entered, I was lucky enough to find an SKS rifle and a police vest. I was feeling pretty good and decided to start looting and maybe find some high ground to check out the area for players. While I didn't find a rooftop to take cover in, I did find a scar and some ammo. Gunshots were going off all around me so I decided to switch to offense and be a bit more aggressive. I usually play pretty safe and cautiously in Battlegrounds, but sometimes you have to get aggressive to come out on top. It was time to kick ass and take some names. Well, I don't really remember their names, but I did kick ass for the most part. I hear someone outside and station myself on the mid-floor patio. Besides my bad aim and initial missed shots, I manage to restore some of my pride and finish the player off with my secondary rifle. After dispatching my first enemy, I head downstairs to loot the body, before leaving the building, I hear another player extremely close by. I decided to crouch in the corner and watch the opposite door for the potential intruder. Luckily, he had no idea I was inside and a few quick shots to his chest put him to sleep. Two enemies down and the game has just started.

At this point, I'm feeling pretty confident and since I know I'm recording this footage, I'm feeling like a bad-ass, although deep inside I know that I'm merely an amateur and way out of my league with this game. Nevertheless, I decide to continue to loot the buildings, feeling confident that there aren't many players left in the town. Everything was fine and dandy for a good little while. I found more ammo than I could possibly use, and since the barrier is starting to close in on me, I decided to head out towards the safe circle. Before heading out, I checked left and right before leaving the town. I engage an enemy far off in the distance but my less than stellar aim got me in a firefight that I probably wouldn't have won. I retreated to heal up, and while running I was another enemy heading out of the town, I hit him with some shots, soon after realizing I'm getting in way over my head, I hid in the attic of a nearby building. Closely listening to footsteps, I knew that one of the players is heading into my building, and i was at a huge advantage with both my shotgun and my positioning. I wait patiently, and thankfully, my patience pays off as I easily finish off my enemy with some slugs to the chest. I heal up once again, loot his body, and started running towards the objective.

While I had some pretty decent loot, the safe zone was far away, and the only way to get there was by running through a completely open field. I had no choice so I decided to run knowing full well the other player I encountered earlier may still be at large. Turns out I was right, and I start getting fired at as soon as I run out into the open field. I try my best to zig-zag in an attempt to make myself a harder target and I quickly take cover behind a rock to heal. The barrier was closing in fast, and I needed to start running again, regardless of the incoming fire. The so-called sniper must have realized how close the barrier was as well, and just like me, decided to make a full sprint to the safe zone. Good thing there isn't any stamina depletion in Battlegrounds or I definitely would have died from the barrier. My attacker and I are both running for the safe zone, and unfortunately, he/she had a bit of a lead on me. My enemy reaches the safe zone just before me and starts firing, I quickly zig-zag to a shack directly in front of the safe zone and return fire. Thankfully, I killed him/her in the firefight and ran into the safe zone. After healing and looting the body, I continued to run to the next safe zone since I had a long way to go and no vehicle at my disposal. 

Four enemies down and I was still alive and kicking, but more than anything, the barrier worried me the most. It was unlikely that I would find a vehicle, so my only option was to run the most direct route to the safe zone. This entire route was basically wide out in the open, and I was constantly checking every angle to make sure there wasn't anybody in sight. Luckily, I spotted a player running in the distance and decided to catch up and take him down since I had the element of surprise. Sadly, the holographic sight I equipped turned my aim into garbage and I missed every shot I took at him. He was likely just as worried about the barrier as me, and he decided to keep running instead of returning fire. I took cover behind a tree and switched my holographic sight for a red-dot. I shot him in the back as he was running and ran for the closest building since the red-zone had spawned directly on top of me.

Luck was not with me in this match, and unless I wanted to be reduced to a pile of limbs, I needed to make my way to shelter before the bombs started dropping. Luckily, due to my rigorous cardio-training, I made it to the building just in time. After the bombing stopped, I quickly checked the body that I'd left behind, only to find out he had even less luck than me and even less loot. The barrier was catching up again, so I started running to the destination as planned. After crossing a small river, things were looking promising. 33 players left, and I had racked up 5 kills already, unscathed; for the most part at least. As I was passing by a building complex, another player and I came face to face. Bullets starting flying instantly, and unfortunately, my enemy had better aim than me. I didn't make it to the top ten, or even close for that matter, but man was it an adrenaline filled game. Battlegrounds tends to pull me back in no matter how many times I lose. Even though I didn't win, it was definitely a fun round. Maybe someday I'll win, or I'll just get tired of it and go play Overwatch. Only time will tell (probably Overwatch though).