I have been playing this game since it first released, but really started around 2016 (When there were already a large amount of max level players). I will be honest, it has a steep learning curve and you will quickly learn exactly how good you are at FPS in reality as the game, by nature, does not "baby you" or place you with players of similar skill. Some say this game is competitive, they are lying, some say you have to play with others, they are lying, ome say you are best playing solo, they are lying. Within my time playing this game, I have learned that, you can really play this game however you want.

First off, my experience with it. For the longest time, I could not play the game as I had a bad computer, instead I played on the PS4 and had a decent time, but it was clear the game was meant for PC. Once I got a good computer and began playing on the computer, I really began to have fun. Now, it was a slow start. I would play for a month, ten not play for a month, and repeat. I had issues first getting in, the high skill level of my surounding players, my reletivey bad at fps skills, but as time went on, I improved. Eventually I began playing the game casually while listening to podasts (Yes, you can play solo with little issues, that was prominently how I played for years). Then I started to get good, and better, I had begun to make my way up the learning curve. At first, I only played infiltrator, but eventually I was playing all classes. Now, after playing the game a little competitively for a while, I think I have become a really good player.

Overall, I believe the main reason why I was able to get as good as I am with this game, and improve my overall FPS skills was thanks to the lack of a player rating system, thus forcing me to fight those more skilled than me, forcing me to improve. But, enough about my history with the game, now as for my views after having played for 1000 hours.

This game, is the fps game. After having gotten into this game, the only fps I can find myself able to play are those with historical context, or those that try to be extremely tactical. Battlefield, COD, and all those other FPS that cost money are worthless as they are not free, do not give me 100 v 100 battles, do not have the open endless battle maps, and do not have the crazy things occur that occur in this game. Not only that, but it can genuinely be played in however you like your FPS to be: You can play as a sniper sitting on a rock miles away picking out your distant targets, as a tanker running around, taking down the enemy armour, as a pilot in the air providing the crucial air support, as a logistics person, driving the sundies around and providing the repairs, as a front line soldier, holding a position and running and gunning, like titanfall as a light assault running from the rooftops with skirmishers on, as a squad commander leading your men in organized operations, you can even play the game like a stealth game as a stalker cloaked infiltrator with the faction specific insta-kill knife. This game truly is whatever you want it to be

Now then, I still have some complaints nonetheless. There is still some minor balance issues with a few of the guns (this being said, the starter guns are generally the best guns), the Vanu are mostly full of toxic players (NC and TR generally have nice playerbases)(this is true at least on Emerald), and a few of the maps could use updates, such as Hossin (though the devs are updating the maps with the campaigns).

Overall, Planetside is one of the best and most underrated FPS's you can find. It is fun no matter your play style (and can accommodate nearly every play style). Has a mostly good community of players. It is not for those that enjoy power (that is to say getting K/D ratios above 2) as the game will not baby you, as I stated earlier, you will quickly learn how good at FPS you really are. This game is for those who want a good more arcadey fps that has all one could ever have hoped from such a game.