Overwatch 2

Was OW2 a worthy successor? At launch, it wasn't even a worthy update but the change up in the formula after not playing OW in a couple years was enough for me and a few friends to give the game a go for a bit. After coming back for a few games after not playing for 2 seasons, I think it's time to give this "game" (it's still a glorified update) a review. Of note obviously it's disappointing there's no single player (not that it was going to be good anyway) but this review is based on the content that is currently in the game, and how the devs have addressed problems.

OW2's most meaningful change was the switch from 6 characters to 5. This required devs to rebalance the game in it's entirety while also changing the overall game flow. Part of why I think 2 CP was removed was not because it was hated so much (it is a bad mode), but more so because teams fall apart much easier now. Assuming you have semi-competent teammates who go in with you at the same time, each mode becomes much more swingy as each death means more. This is the best part about 5v5, games are less snowbally and lead to significantly less curb stomping because of it. Sadly this is a catch 22 because teams can start to fall apart a lot easier now if your only tank is terrible. This is rectified in open queue but then it becomes too grindy due to how tanks are balanced now. Ultimately this means the games that do snowball feel even worse because it's usually due to the failure of a single player (whereas before one player could be slacking but the fight could still be won).

5v5 has also lead the meta to have significantly less interesting team comps. Switching characters is obviously still vital to the game, but your team comp seems to matter significantly less. Many characters have lost their identities in rebalancing. Mei, McCree, Doomfist, and more have been altered in such a drastic way that they lack the intrigue the original character had. Doomfist for example becoming a tank may make him a more viable pick overall, but he's lost the "fighting game feel" he had to him previously. I will say the Orisa rework was great and gave her a defined personality which she didn't have before instead of feeling like an amalgamation of other characters like the OW2 cast.

The new characters all lack the identity of previous characters as well. While I consider Overwatch's world to be pretty soulless in the first place, these new characters will make you think that Reaper truly is an original design. None of the new characters have those iconic voicelines which get stuck in your head, none of them have much of an identifiable personality, and none of them feel like they even belong in the Overwatch world bar the newest character Mauga who is probably the only solid addition. I will say that all of the new characters kits are pretty fun, but most of them don't really do anything unique. Sourjoun is another solider, junkerqueen is another brawling tank, kiriko is a slightly different zen, ram is a shield tank, illari is another bap and lifeweaver is a pretty generic healer. Every new character so far has just felt like another Orisa launch.

OW2 currently boost 2 new modes, each which is another take on King of the Hill. Push is tug of war, wheras flashpoint is just king of the hill multiple times on one map. Both game modes are easy to steam roll in, have mostly horrible level design, and are just not fun to play. Some issues could be alleviated with push (why does the team winning get to push farther ahead?) but ultimately these modes feel like they're added just to justify "new content".

And that's the big thing with OW2, new content. In American fashion, the OW devs have taken away features, content, etc. and offered it like it was something new. I could go on about how horrible all the microtransactions are, how counterintuitive it is to unlock characters, how "ranked 3.0" is just going to be OW1 ranked more or less, and how baffling it is that this current season has 2 battle passes.

OW2 serves little purpose and it feels especially terrible since I can't play OW1 anymore. The new characters are uninspired, the commodification of the game is egregious, the new maps and modes are the worst the game's ever seen, and the devs have done little to alleviate core issues or create meaningful single player content that was previously promised. There's still fun to be had here and I don't blame you for picking this up for a few months to play with friends, but if you're not into OW already, play something else.

For anyone wanting a modern equivalent to TF2 that actually gets support from it's developers, this is the closest thing we'll be getting forever. As usual, fuck blizzard, I'll go discuss the gameplay.

I was immediately put down by the rigid movement and slightly off gunplay, maybe I'd get used to it after 1k hours into playing this game?

I like the idea of having a diverse roster of (I will not call them "heroes") characters to choose from, like Soldier 76 who rips off COD for the 12904225th time, and D.Va, who rides a mech, etc, etc, however you can't customize their loadout unfortunately. It's almost like it expands on the fighting game undertones that TF2 had going, until it decides to add in MOBA/RTS elements... Let's just say I'm not a fan of this at all.


I could see Overwatch as a worthy successor to TF2, given it's touhou-like cult following (most people who know it don't play it), insane amounts of polish that would make Nintendo jealous, a warm, colorful atmosphere and artsyle, and a gameplay experience that feels very rewarding, moreso than the average game on Call of Halofield. I just don't like how they took out random crits, though (Random crits are fair and balanced).

drama wise, this is the new trending lolcow and would be an instant 0.5 (my 0.5s are reserved for lolcows), but the actual game itself is just pretty mediocre. Idk, it's just not for me.

2/5

Edit: forget it, no more sugar coating. I'm not going to tolerate this dumpster Fire. 1.0/5

Edit 2: I've decided to leave this game unrated. I have little to no experience with the game, have no thoughts on Blizzard Activision and my chances of returning to this game are slim.

So, as of 5/16/2023, Blizzard Entertainment announced that the Singleplayer/Co-Op ("PvE") content they've been working on for about 4 years was being cut from Overwatch 2's plans. But the reason why they made the jump from Overwatch 1 to 2 was for that PvE content.
So...what has changed from the first game to the second?

5v5 matches instead of 6v6 - Overwatch was notorious for poor balance decisions from the developers. Instead of catering towards casual players or hardcore players, they tried finding a middle-ground - which led to slew of issues. Toward the end of the game's lifecycle, the

this is not overwatch, this is just another scummy money grab scheme from Blizzard, ruining a game with minor content updates and calling it a new game, at least when Nintendo did it with splatoon you could still play the older games.

No doubt one of the most transparent and lazy cash-grabs we've seen in a while. Overwatch 2 is essentially a monetization change with a few new heroes and maps tossed in. Except, they had to mess something up, so instead of 6v6 it's 5v5 now. All this does is throw a wrench in the game's balance.
Blizzard still can't find a way to incentivize people to play the game right, so role cue and the obtuse game modes remain.
It's honesty disappointing considering how strong the foundation here is, there is a great game somewhere in this. But for now this serves as an example of how developer incompetence can kneecap a game that should be fun.

DISSAPOINTING, this is the first game, wtf have they been doing for years

i have a lot of hope for the new mode though, overwatch was amazing back when it came out but now it seems that everyone is against blizzard, what is happening behind the scenes