Game: Overwatch
Platforms: PC (Reviewed), Xbox One, PS4
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
It has been awhile since a game has so universally captured the spirit of the gaming community. Generally speaking, most game releases are met by both fans who love it, and people that hate it, which is understandable, given the fact that we all have different tastes in video games. But, Overwatch is one of those rare games that only comes around once every five years or so to absolutely dominate the video game market as a whole, with seemingly every single gamer you know hopping aboard the hype train.
Sure, you have your single player games like Uncharted 4 or Ratchet & Clank that generally have a lot of fanfare and universal appeal behind them, but typically speaking, multiplayer games like Overwatch are loved by some and hated by others. Overwatch, however, appears to be universally loved.
And, there’s a lot to love about Blizzard’s entrant into the FPS market (note: FPS, not MOBA). For one, it has a wide breadth of characters that all have their own unique abilities, each of which could win or save a match on its own. The sheer variety of characters — there are 21 characters at launch, all of which are filled with individuality — is probably the game’s most appealing aspect, as they each have their own personalities and abilities that will cause players to either flock towards or stay away from when choosing characters. What’s more, you’re able to change your characters on the fly after each death, so that you’re able to tailor your character choice to the team’s current needs. It could be considered a dynamic game of chess, if you think about it — as your opposing team changes characters to adjust their strategy, your team can change theirs as needed as well. It’s an interesting element in the game’s design that’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.
I’ll also commend Blizzard on implementing a little team-helper guide when choosing a character, so that newcomers know what type of character your team needs. Most often, you’ll find your team lacking a tank. So, you know, get ready to suck it up and play as any of the game’s five tanks — Reinhardt, Roadhog, Winston, Zarya, or D.Va. I’ll also note that these characters all have their pros and cons, and Blizzard has done an incredible job designing the game to be balanced, at least mostly (which is a tough achievement for a brand new multiplayer franchise).
Of course, with Overwatch’s already huge roster of unique characters, there has already been massive interest in merchandise for individual characters; fans want to show everyone else how much they love Tracer or how awesome Hanzo looks. It’s the marketing behind Overwatch that made it successful at launch, but it’s going to be its undoubtedly oncoming massive push for character-driven merchandise that brings its appeal to an entirely different level of success.
Overwatch currently only has a few modes, but the majority of players will simply choose a Quick Match, which has a variety of game types within that are randomly presented to players. One mode requires you to move a payload (a moving vehicle) by having your team outnumber the opposing team as long as you can to move the vehicle from point A to point B, and another mode tasks you with attacking or defending a certain spot on the map. They sound simplistic, sure, but it’s mostly due to Overwatch‘s evolving dynamics that cause these modes to be so enjoyable.
It’s also a bit unfortunate that we’re unable to pick specifically which game mode we’d like to play, but hopefully that is on the way. Also, I would have really liked to have seen just a Team Deathmatch mode, with a simple team versus team dynamic without any objectives, but unfortunately, there is no room for filthy casuals in Overwatch’s current state. Overwatch’s visuals are also rather stunning. The game looks great on both PC and consoles, and it’s especially noticeable during some of the ultimate abilities (for instance, Hanzo’s Dragonstrike which shoots two swirling dragons across the screen or the motion blur in Reaper’s Death Blossom). Maps are colorful, and each map has its own general aura, due to its design.
Bottom Line
It’s Overwatch’s potential longevity that adds such a mass appeal to it. It has been awhile since fans have been able to confidently sink their teeth into a new game knowing that there’s going to be a huge community and support around it. Luckily, it appears as though Blizzard is putting many of its chips on Overwatch, with the promise of free content updates in the future that will add more characters and modes to the game. Overwatch should be considered the first multiplayer masterpiece of the Xbox One/PS4 era. And honestly, if no other quality game were to release for the rest of 2016, I’d still be able to call 2016 one of the best years in gaming, thanks to Overwatch.
Score: 9.5/10
Pros:
- Numerous Characters
- Art Design
- Potential Longevity
- Competitiveness
Cons:
- No Team Deathmatch
