Summary
Fortnitehas become well known for its constantly evolving nature. Whether through new maps, characters, or even gameplay mechanics,Fortnitehas quickly turned into many different games in one title. Now, with Chapter 5’s inclusion of modes like Fortnite Festival and LEGO Fortnite, it seems as though anything is possible withinFortnite.
However, there is still one feature that has yet to be given the same amount of love and experimentation as the rest of the game. As one of the staple mechanics in the game, melee has been withFortnitesince the very beginning of Battle Royale, and the game’s next venture in gameplay innovation should focus on how it handles the mechanic.The many features inFortnitemake it a game that caters to a variety of tastes, and detailed melee combat would only further the game’s already impressive reach.
A Fortnite Season Focused on Melee
Giving the Long-Running Mechanic the Love It Deserves
Melee controls have played a major part ofFortnite’s gameplay, but they have been kept incredibly simple.Pickaxes have been an important tool inFortnite, and although these objects play a big role in collecting building materials, their use as a weapon is pretty clunky. Of course, pickaxes can do damage, but they are completely powerless against any other type of weapon in the game. One of the most surprising waysFortnitecould make combat feel fresh is through completely flipping the established gun-focused gameplay on its head and bringing melee into the spotlight.
The closestFortnitehas ever got to a melee-focused combat style is with the occasionalinclusion of LightsabersduringStar Warsevents. Hacking and slashing one’s way through other players with Lightsabers is always an exciting change of pace during matches, and it might be wise for Epic Games to have a whole season based around this concept. Not exactly based around Lightsabers, per se, but making the majority of weapons available be melee-focused, or close-range weapons in general.
Potential For Exciting New Weapons and In-Depth Melee Mechanics
The weapon possibilities are seemingly endless. When it comes to the prospect of a melee season, the game could go one of two ways.
With the former, it would be compelling to see how Epic Games chooses to refine the game’s melee mechanics to feel like a more fleshed out version of face-to-face combat. However, a gameplay overhaul like this would prove to be a tall order for developers, so it may not be the most efficient route. The latter option could feature a variety of melee weapons to pick up with their own combat animations, so the melee feels sharper and more unique without actually having to completely change how the pickaxe mechanics work.Fortniteis always putting a twist on in-game features, and a melee-centered era for the game could prove to be a hit if pulled off correctly.
The Nitro Fists introduced in this current season could also be a great blueprint for close-quarters combat.
Giving Melee Fighting Its Own Mode
It seems likeFortnitehas given almost every type of gameplay its own mode. With the likes of Zero Build and Rocket Racing expanding upon whatFortnitecan be, it only makes sense for there to also be a game mode that brings melee front and center. FromFortnite’s many high-profile crossoversto massive in-game events, the game keeps growing. However, melee has yet to receive the same attention despite being one of the oldest mechanics.
Although there are currently no known plans to make this type of mode a reality, it’s surprising thatFortnitehasn’t brought melee to the forefront yet in a bigger way. The Lightsaber-focused moments are fun, and the popularcrossover withAvatar the Last Airbenderbordered on melee combat. However, these mechanics could still be brought further into the future.
