Finally, Blizzard Entertainment launched Overwatch 2, the long-awaited sequel to the hero shooter that was released in 2016 and that six years later presents new features, although in an area already known.
Overwatch 2 It is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch.
We pick up where we left off
I’ll be honest, I started playing Overwatch way back in 2016 and couldn’t put it down for months. Its addictive colors, its frenetic action and a subtle but enigmatic world that Blizzard was building.
Then, due to different situations, I left the game and went to the universe of apex legends, although I guess what I felt at the time was that the game was in a vicious circle; a snake eating its own tail. And Blizzard’s attention was no longer the same for what was at one point one of the key games in its repertoire.
Several years passed and the announcement of Overwatch 2 I left everyone perplexed thinking what was coming to replace the saga. Activision Blizzard passed into the hands of Microsoft and the project that had been stumbling along finally kicked off.
Six years later, does this second part feel the same, better or worse? Everyone will have opinions, this is humbly mine.
To begin with, the radical change in the game is to be free with a battle pass model that is now common currency in titles such as Fortnite, Multiversus, Call of Duty: Warzone; etc. The effect caused many new players to join the saga and other veterans felt that they needed more rewards for having remained faithful for so many years. Thirsty for the Blizzard title caused what was expected the fall of servers, endless queues and bugs. Everything is being fixed and it is not the fault of the company; the demand is huge.
5v5, ping wheel and the promise of campaign mode
After skipping the economic difference, we go to the most radical playable change. We went from 6vs6 to 5vs5. Things are now more strategic and not so chaotic. There is room for each player to choose to be a tank, support, or DPS. Allowing the contests to be more even and not so unbalanced. This also caused changes in the characters, movements in the squad that not everyone will like. But Overwatch 2 It is an evolution game and practice will tell which hero is “broken” and you have to “nerf” or “buff”.
As for characters there are 35 in total, all those who have bought the Overwatch Original users will have the characters unlocked, while new users will have to play approximately 100 games to unlock the entire roster. There are 3 new heroes added: Sojourn (DPS), Junker Queen (Tank), and Kiriko (Support). The latter is part of the battle pass, we can unlock it from the beginning if we buy the premium mode or reach level 55 to obtain it. Points are earned gradually by completing daily and weekly challenges. Blizzard promises to include a new hero every two seasons.
The famous «Ping» wheel is something super common nowadays, introduced by apex legends. see it on Overwatch 2 It gave me the necessary jump from the EA game to this one. Perhaps at times it is not necessary but for certain game modes I find it very useful.
Speaking of modes, to the classics of capture the flag, elimination or accompanying the charge; Push is added to the Robot. A series of maps where we will have to accompany a robot while it pushes a block, the one that takes it the farthest or reaches its destination wins the game.
What many expected was a campaign mode that gave the opportunity to explore specific missions for each of the characters. This finally remains for now in a promise that Blizzard is preparing it for 2023.
A face wash and ear cleaning
To say that Overwatch 2 it is a patch of one is to fall short; although we are not going to say that it is a new game that revolutionizes the market and distances it from its bases. Visually, this second part has everything that attracted me to its 2016 version, but with a more varied color palette and more defined faces (being a hero shooter, it was necessary). If you are a bit nostalgic or don’t like the new design, Blizzard gives you the opportunity to play with the classic skins.
Where I felt the biggest change was in the sound. This is something that those who played the one will notice. The balance of sound effects such as hits and gunshots is very well synchronized with the soundtrack and the voices of the characters. Apart from that now they have new interactions, some that give a certain logic to the stage or the heroes.