Fortnite Chapter 2 has come to an end after over two years and eight seasons, but before we delve into Chapter 3, I want to talk a look back at the final season of this chapter: Chapter 2 - Season 8: Cubed. The Cube Queen is planning devastation and alien debris litters the map. Let's dive in!
Following the Operation: Sky Fire live event, alien ships have smashed into the map, bringing Chapter 1's Cubes and Cube Monsters back with them.
SEASON 8: THE BASICS
Here is the Chapter 2 - Season 8 Map:
Overall the map changes are lacking this season, though we have had the addition of interesting locations like The Pyramid later in the season. But on launch, the only notable changes were the alien crash sites across the map. They're cool, but the fact that none hit major POIs when we thought they would is disappointing.
Here is the Chapter 2 - Season 8 base loot pool:
The loot pool for Chapter 2 Season 8 is basically an improvement over last season. There are plenty of classic weapons, along with a few unvaults and new Sideways Rifle, Minigun and (later on) Scythe. Most of the IO weapons are vaulted, and everything alien is gone unfortunately.
Considering how chaotic the Chapter 1 Season X loot pool was, I would have liked to have seen more here, but for what it is it's fine enough.
Some highlights of the loot pool are the cool new melee Sideways Scythe, as well as the returning Burst Assault Rifle and the Rapid Fire SMG. The meta is pretty solid this season, though I'd have preferred if the Pump Shotgun was vaulted instead of the Tactical Shotgun.
SEASON 8: GAMEPLAY
Chapter 2 Season 8 has brought a whole host of new interesting features, such as the Sideways Bubbles. In these warped dimensions, you fight the new versions of the Cube Monsters. It's low gravity and you can't build. The new Cube Monsters are also cool, especially the Caretakers.
Also new this season are Salvaged B.R.U.T.E.S. - Epic's second attempt at making the Mechs work. The B.R.U.T.E.S. in Season X were far too powerful, however this season they are much more balanced and I had a lot more fun both using them and fighting them this time around.
SEASON 8: COSMETICS
Here are all the cosmetic outfits added in Chapter 2 - Season 8:
There are a lot of interesting additions here this time. The Original/Collab gap is decreasing more than ever, as the amount of Collab outfits nearly reaches the number of Originals.
Some highlights this season (in my opinion) are Torin from the Battle Pass, the Naruto collab outfits, secret skin The Cube Queen, the FNCS 2:8 skin Victor Elite, and the long-awaited Shadow Midas.
SEASON 8: LIVE EVENT
This season's live event, titled The End, was intense. We saw the Cube Queen destroy everything in her path, we saw The Foundation save Agent Jones from the hands of Slone and the IO. We saw Dwayne Johnson unmasked. We saw the Island flip. Hype!
A very good event overall. I think my ranking of the live events now would go:
Operation Sky Fire
Zero Crisis
The End (Chapter 2)
The Device
The End (Chapter 1)
SEASON 8: ISSUES
Chapter 2 - Season 8 hasn't had a huge amount of issues. My only problems with it have been the heavy recoil on the Combat Assault Rifle and Combat Pistol (as well as the lack-of-addition of the Combat SMG), the low amounts of Salvaged B.R.U.T.E.S. that will spawn in a match, and the rather underwhelming Fortnitemares 2021 event.
SEASON 8: CREATIVE
Season 8 brought even more quality of life features to Creative Mode along with fan-requested features, much like the previous two seasons. This includes XP, the Sideways weapons, NPCs and the first Exotic item. Yet another slam-dunk of a season.
CONCLUSION
Overall, Chapter 2 Season 8 has been a good send-off to Fortnite's second chapter, second era and second map. I wish it was a little bit more chaotic, like Season X, but it hasn't been a bad way to go.
SEASON RATING: 7/10
I'm excited to see what happens in Chapter 3, so let's wait for downtime to finish and then jump off the Battle Bus onto a new island. See you on the flipside!
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