PUBG: Remembering Paramo
Season 9 of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) brought with it a brand new map — Paramo. Paramo is a small 3x3km map covered in luscious grass and vicious volcanoes. While it was advertised as a seasonal map, PUBG players expected Paramo to join the regular map rotation at the conclusion of Season 9. As it turns out, the developers plan to remove Paramo entirely by the start of Season 10.
This came as a shock to the community. Paramo was turning into a fan-favourite. Removing the map completely with such short notice sparked both anger and sadness.
As we grieve the loss of Paramo, let’s look back fondly on what made Paramo so good. Additionally, we’ll examine the negatives of Paramo and how the map could be improved for a future rerelease.
What Made Paramo So Good
Innovative Layout and Features
One of the main highlights of Paramo is the addition of Dynamic Map Locations. Major points of interest (POIs) and parts of the terrain are relocated in every new session. No one session on the map is ever the same.
This unique feature forces players to constantly adapt. Oftentimes in battle royale games with only a couple maps max, players will get stuck in a routine. Everyone picks out their favourite spot or two on the map and lands there exclusively. Players get in a habit of following the same path every game. With Dynamic Map Locations, that favourite spot may be on the edge of the map one game, and in the dead centre of the map the next. This adds variety to PUBG as we’ve never seen before.
Adding on to the “no one match is the same '' vibe, Paramo is covered in active volcanoes. These volcanoes will spew lava over the map. This lava will impede player movement and force players to take alternative routes. The lava serves as a new hazard, dealing extreme damage to any players brave enough to step foot in it.
Finally, Paramo is home to a new item called Secret Room Keys. Players can find these keys randomly around the map. Secret Room Keys are as the name implies. Secret rooms are hidden around the map, and the only way to enter is with a key. Inside, players will find high-tier loot and other surprises. It’s nothing too major but just another cool feature of Paramo.
Click to enlargeNo Bots
Since Paramo is considered a Seasonal Match, the map does not spawn bots. This is reason alone for many players to favour Paramo.
Bots have become a serious issue in PUBG. Bots ruin the immersion the game is known and loved for. PUBG thrives in its niche as a slow-paced, tactical Battle Royale. When a bot comes running in the open and blindly spraying its weapon, that immersion is destroyed.
Players looking to escape the AI takeover flocked to Paramo.
Nonstop Action
Paramo is ideal for players in search of constant action. Paramo is 3x3km, far smaller than the 8x8km maps PUBG is traditionally known for. The only map smaller than Paramo is Karakin at 2x2km.
Not only does Paramo have a very tiny playing area, but the map also has multiple features that further work to promote engagements.
PUBG has always had Air Drops. However, on Paramo, these Air Drops fall via helicopter. What’s unique about Paramo is that these helicopters can be shot at. Shooting enough rounds into a helicopter will make it release the Air Drop early. Shooting at a helicopter is a risk though, as the gunfire along with the newly dropped loot will attract attention. Mechanics like this encourage and force engagements.
Paramo may be a bit larger than Karakin, but unlike Karakin, Paramo has vehicles. There are drivable motorcycles scattered around Paramo. Players can use these to instantly jump into the action.
This all works together to create perhaps the most frantic map PUBG has ever seen.
Click to enlargeWhat We Won’t Miss About Paramo
Lack of Solos and Duos
Paramo is held back by the fact that it was only ever playable in Squads mode. Solos and Duos were never made available on Paramo.
This is unfortunate for many reasons. Not everyone has friends to play with. Some players want to enjoy the new map without being forced to team with randoms. Additionally, some players just prefer Solos and Duos to Squads. Everyone has their own tastes, so it’s sad that nothing was done to accommodate the large portion of the playerbase looking for an alternative to Squads.
Third-Party Paradise
The obvious downside of a compact map like Paramo is the massive influx of third parties. It’s rare to have an engagement on Paramo that does not get interfered with by another team. Because Paramo is only 3x3km, there will almost always be other players around to hear your gunfire. Typically, these players will come rushing in to clean up the fight and steal the loot. This means as soon as you get out of a fight, expect another one immediately. Many players despise third parties as it doesn’t usually end up being a fair fight.
Click to enlargeMissing The PUBG “Feel”
PUBG die-hards will argue that Paramo gets away from the PUBG “feel” many players have come to know and love. PUBG separates itself from the standard battle royale based on it’s slow, tactical gameplay. Paramo is the opposite of slow and tactical. Players are encouraged to recklessly pursue action.
For some, this is a welcome change. For others, this is not what they are looking for in PUBG. Some in the community mock Paramo for feeling like a Call of Duty: Warzone map as opposed to a PUBG one. A match on Paramo may only take 10-15 minutes to finish while a match on Erangel will take more like 25-30. This could be a pro or a con depending on the person, but it’s certainly a leap away from the traditional PUBG experience.
All in all, Paramo will be looked back on fondly. Paramo brought with it new features and variety the likes we’ve never seen before in PUBG. While it could still be improved upon, Paramo is a map worth remembering.
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Images via PUBG Studio
