The most significant change you will see in Overwatch 2 is that it’s now 5v5 instead of 6v6, completely changing the game’s dynamic.
Is change really good? That’s a question that many people ask not only about life in general but also ask about gaming. Some people may embrace it, and others may reject it. We have seen many Blizzard Entertainment franchises change for better or for worse. Gamers may have questioned Blizzard’s direction in recent years for various reasons. Still, it seems like Overwatch 2 could answer that all-important question about change, and after playing the game for as many hours as I did, I came away with more questions than answers.
All the heroes from Overwatch return, along with several new heroes, such as the tank hero Junker Queen, the DPS hero Sojourn, and the support hero Kiriko. Other heroes have been reworked completely. One of my biggest disappointments is Mei no longer being able to freeze people with anything other than her ultimate ability. Being able to get 30-40 freezes a game was a boon for my teammates and a great annoyance to my opponents, which is why I have poured in over 360 hours into playing her. Bastion has become more mobile (for better or worse), Doomfist is now a tank, and Orisa is now more viable on Attack. One thing is for sure: you won’t spend most of your time trying to destroy barriers and shields. For veterans of the game, that means relearning some of the heroes you know and love, while those new to the franchise will have a fresh start.
One of the best additions to Overwatch 2 is the new game modes. One of the new PvP modes is “Push,” which requires teams to push a robot/payload to the opponent’s side of the map, which can be very entertaining as it is a sort of tug-of-war between both teams. Blizzard has also re-designed the art style of the heroes, and you can even ping areas of the map to show your teammates where enemies are, which can be vital to turning the tide of battle in your favor.
The leveling system is replaced by the Battle Pass system, where one gets various rewards, much like the Battle Pass in the Call of Duty franchise. You can also purchase battle pass levels in Overwatch 2 and various cosmetic items. Personally, the thrill of chasing the latest skins has always been something I have enjoyed, although the new Battle Pass system has me divided on whether I should just grind out the levels or get out my wallet to purchase levels. In addition, you can play with your friends on consoles, although any competitive modes will be separated into console and PC tracks.
What players are really looking forward to is the new player vs. environment (PvE) mode or story mode. You can join your friends in taking on various battles and customizing your heroes. Although this story mode is not available at the time of this writing, it is estimated to be added to the game in early 2023. Blizzard has estimated that over 100 PvE missions will be available with new maps and already-existing maps, along with dynamic effects such as day and night and weather conditions. These missions were available during seasonal events in Overwatch, but it seeks to become a more permanent part of the game. While I am more in favor of playing against other people, I am looking forward to PvE as well.
So back to the original question: is change really good? For Blizzard, it should be embraced. The pending acquisition by Microsoft shows that they might get back to creating great games again without the controversies that have plagued them in the last couple of years. Perhaps Overwatch 2 is a step in the right direction for the company as a whole.
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Words by Jose Alvarez
Also published in Gadgets Magazine November-December 2022 Issue