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Overwatch 2 Review: Missing More Than An Extra Tank
After years of delays and a controversial development, Overwatch's competitive 6v6 hero-based shooter is gone, and in its place is Overwatch 2. Blizzard's free-to-play sequel, developed by Team 4, has replaced the original shooter entirely. The dramatic shift to 5v5 battles also introduces new heroes, maps, and game types. Still, is it enough to make the game feel like a true sequel, or does it feel like a glorified update containing too little too late?
Plans for the sequel's release have changed since its 2019 announcement, and Overwatch 2's PvE Co-Op isn't releasing in 2022, but was teased when the game was announced. However, launching the new 5v5 multiplayer for free as a live service game has the potential to deliver loads of content to players over time if the gameplay keeps them interested that long.
The original Overwatch quickly became a hit with its tight, team-based gameplay and unique characters. Team 4's character designers crafted many characters with individual personalities and abilities, and over the years, the roster of playable characters grew, and the abilities of old favorites were adjusted. Each character eventually fit into one of three classes: Tank, Damage, or Support Heroes. Overwatch 2 has changed the game with 5v5 battles by removing a tank player and tweaking how several characters play, reducing the number of times players will find themselves getting stuck in choke points.
Each match now only has one tank on a team to help defend their teammates rather than OW1's 2/2/2 setup of having two of each class in a game. Each tank character has had some sort of buff or adjustment. Characters like Reinhardt and Winston can now output more damage from a distance, while other characters have seen changes too, like Bastion's boosted mobility and Doomfist's ability to absorb damage more effectively in his new Tank role designation. Many of Overwatch 2's hero reworks will need to be experimented with by players to fully grasp their changes. Still, it's clear that Team 4 at Blizzard has been careful in making these adjustments to make Overwatch matches feel like they are always progressing, which helps the game's multiplayer combat feel more fun and satisfying than it has in the past.
The decision to shift to 5v5 battles feels both appropriate and necessary the more time players spend with the game. New gameplay adjustments, responsive controls, and the upgraded UI help Overwatch 2 feel better than ever. Beefier tanks and more opportunities to score meaningful damage help players achieve a sense of accomplishment more often than OW1 provided, even when a match is lost, which was the original Overwatch's biggest problem for many players. Games flow smoother, and the action feels most plentiful. Plus, with the upgraded matchmaking system, players shouldn't need to wait long to find matches. Quickplay matches for the review build played smoothly and loaded quickly. Players will be able to play with friends across different platforms, and cross-progression will allow players to level up no matter which system they are playing on, as long as they are able to sync their accounts with their Battle.net accounts. Another dramatic change for OW2 is how players progress in unlocking new cosmetics, skins, and in-game currency.
Battle Pass Seasons Last Nine Weeks And Will Be Themed
Battle Passes are becoming a popular method of giving players a long list of cosmetics and skins to unlock as they level up in a F2P multiplayer game. Games like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Valorant have popularized the seasonal Battle Pass model that Overwatch 2 will follow. New players who do not want to spend any money will be able to unlock content through the game's free battle pass, with new content being earned every few times they level up. However, players who purchase the $10 nine-week-long Premium Battle Pass will unlock something every time they level up and instantly be granted access to Overwatch 2's three new heroes. This brings up one of the game's more controversial choices by locking Overwatch heroes behind the Battle Pass.
One of the most frustrating aspects of Overwatch 2's release is how details about its Battle Passes and locked heroes weren't revealed until weeks before its release. In the past, the game director admitted Overwatch players had been let down by a lack of updates. Certain heroes, features, and modes will require play time to unlock. This is in place to help new players feel less overwhelmed by the game's extensive selection of heroes and modes. Overwatch's roster will unlock gradually by completing matches and wins double the unlocking process, with heroes becoming unlocked after finishing every few rounds. It's a frustrating restriction not to have access to all of OW2's unique characters for those who want to give Blizzard's shooter a try. Still, like most F2P games, players can spend real money to instantly level up through the Battle Pass and quickly unlock everything it offers.
News Heroes And Mythic Skins Are What Overwatch Has Been Missing
Players who can fully level up their Battle Passes to the maximum level of 80 will unlock Overwatch 2's first Mythic Skin for Genji. The new highest tier of skins are highly customizable and by far the most detailed the series has seen. Besides the new Mythic skin, new heroes Sojourn, Junker Queen, and Kiriko also provide some much-needed freshness to the franchise. New Damage hero Sojourn and Tank hero Junker Queen were playable during Overwatch 2's beta tests. However, Support hero Kiriko is both deadly and unique with her ability to warp from teammate to teammate across the game's map. Her ability to land critical hits, heal, and negate damage will make her a brutal choice in the right hands. Like her fellow playable ninja characters, her mobility allows her to also run up walls which will be incredibly helpful in Overwatch 2's new levels and Push game mode.
Unfortunately, the review build of Overwatch 2 available for press did not contain access to the Arcade game modes, which normally contains a variety of game modes to play. However, the new Push game type tasks players to escort a large bi-pedal robot that only moves when there is one team around it. The new Push maps are filled with different paths that are fun to navigate and explore with any of the game's heroes while players work out the fastest way for them to return to the action. Each level is packed with secrets and references to the game and the real-world location a map is based on. Matchmaking hosts a combination of new and old maps that all look great under the game's new engine. Developers have promised that new maps and heroes would alternate with each new season, with the first two seasons both containing a new hero. Overwatch 2's unannounced 36th hero has been teased as a new Tank arriving with Season 2 this December.
More Content Will Make Overwatch 2 Feel Complete
During Overwatch's Seasonal Archive events, players received a taste of what PvE Co-Op could be like in Overwatch 2, a feature that apparently needs more time before it's ready. Players often had to wait long periods of time for their favorite events to begin again with new skins to unlock. Overwatch 2's shift to a free-to-play structure with 9 week-long themed seasons should remedy this by consistently giving players new unlockables to work towards.
Fans who have continued to play Overwatch over the years grew hungry for the new maps, modes, and heroes that Overwatch 2 delivers on. At this point, it feels like the bare minimum fans need to keep enjoying Overwatch. As more maps and heroes are introduced, Overwatch 2 may start to feel more like a full sequel rather than a hefty much-needed update. If Blizzard had charged sixty dollars for what the game currently is, fans would be disappointed. The ten-dollar Battle Pass gives fans lots of content to unlock with the game's improved multiplayer action. Even though it will require some play time to unlock heroes behind the Battle Pass, it's an excellent time for new players to see what makes Overwatch as fun and charming as it is. Still, veteran players anxious for something new may want to wait until Overwatch 2 feels more complete.
Overwatch 2 is free-to-play and available on PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and Nintendo Switch.
