Overwatch Review: Blizzard’s Done it Again

Game Reviewed: Overwatch

Release Date: May 23rd, 2016

Developer: Blizzard Entertainment

Publisher: Activision

Platform: [Reviewed:PlayStation 4], Xbox One and PC

Genre: First-Person Shooter

Rated: T for Teen

I’m pretty sure that most gaming enthusiast didn’t know what to expect as they heard of Overwatch. Quite truthfully, I was one of them. From the start, Overwatch first cinematic looked to be nothing more than a Disney Pixar short film. But as time went on, the title began to evolve and genuinely did more than impress. Don’t worry love, the cavalry’s here!

OverWatch introduces you to 21 characters with more on the way, each having up to 54 unlockables earned by leveling up and earning legendary status post-game. We’ll get deeper into this later in the review.

The game kicks off with a tutorial given by Athena and Tracer (my new crush) as you play as Soldier 76, ironically the one player with a true sprinting ability. It’s much needed in understanding the process for understanding how to utilize unique abilities. Each player is equipped with 3 special abilities and an ultimate. While your specials regenerate overtime and characters have unlimited ammo, your ultimate is the game breaker. Ultimates, like your other moves are to be used strategically, but cause the most damage.

In so many words you’re looking at the ultimate run and gun, unless you’re selecting a robotic turret forever loved by a parakeet. Carefully find your favorite hero or villain as it will involve more strategy than the occasional run, aim and fire. When playing in teams there is also a Hero tip available to notify you of what your group may be lacking, which will be quite helpful for the competitive mode.

While on the subject of game modes, you can expect to partake in both defending and attacking objectives.

So what to expect when diving into gameplay? An adrenaline rush to say the least as there is so much to look forward to and every team member can truly take the experience to the next level. Even as Bastion (the robotic turret aforementioned) you have to plan strategically and play as a team or die alone.

Defeat your opponents by blasting them away or supporting your friends in doing so. Overwatch is an experience that can only be understood by playing. It favors the insane styles of Loadout and Team Fortress while taking enhancing gameplay far beyond expectations. Dare I say it, Overwatch is a pretty solid reason to stop playing the Division and accept your true Destiny.

At the end of each session you are able to view the best play of the game. In addition, you have the opportunity to nominate themselves or another player potentially awarding them as either MVP or Legendary, earning additional XP towards leveling up.

Leveling up is rewarding as you receive loot crates granting you character skins, new voiceovers, currency to make your own in-game purchases and more. The biggest downside is the grinding that’s required, with chances of you never earning items for you preferred character.

To be fair the two biggest obstacles have to be the lack of sprinting to get back into the action and no single-player campaign. While the trailers introduced characters quite brilliantly it also gave the impression of a storyline. Instead there are backstories to how characters have become who they are, heroes or villains, on YouTube and not in-game, options, hero details anything.