Overwatch 2 is already with us. For several days we have been enjoying this sequel to Blizzard’s Hero Shooter, a new opportunity to revitalize and bring the title back to its past glory days. A golden opportunity that comes with a revolution in the economic model of the game and which time will tell if it succeeded or not. For the moment, it seems to be the case, although there are still things to improve.
first correct the various problems that arose with the launch. DDOS attack involved, the game had gigantic access queues which prevented access and enjoyment. Also, migrating and merging accounts takes a while (we had a queue of 140,000 people) which can get us desperate if we want to start playing with our content (logical thing).
Undoubtedly, flaws typical of a launch of these characteristics, but inappropriate for a company like Blizzard who, knowing the existing player base of the original title and the claim to be free to play the sequelsuch a volume of players could have crossed his mind.
Either way, as new technical issues are resolved, players return to the battlefields of the future. But will he be up to it? To answer that question, we’ve been diving into Overwatch 2 for the past few days to bring you these first impressions.
graphically impressive
We will start, as always, with the technical part. While it is true that it is not a revolutionary title in its graphics section, Overwatch 2 presents some improvements in its design. At least that’s the feeling with the designs of the new hero skins (all veterans of the game have a new base look) as well as some aesthetic tweaks and improvements to skins from years past. For us, for example, the Sombra Vampire Slayer skin looks better to us than in the original title.
Beyond that, the new scenarios are incredible, with a great level of detail. Something house-branded and something we’ve seen in previous maps, following the trend of feeling unique. Thus, The Colosseum, one of the new maps set in the city of Rome, features elements of Italian culture and the imposing Roman Circus as the final highlight.
As for the more technical sections, we played at 4K and 60 fps on Xbox Series X with no issues or frame drops. Everything remains stable and apart from the access and expulsion errors that we mentioned, everything works perfectly.
The new heroes, the best addition
The big novelty of Overwatch 2 is its new content system. No more loot boxes, make way for a new reward system based on a battle pass. This will give access to new heroes as we progress through its free version, although we will get the new heroes unlocked immediately with the Premium pass. In this first season, Junker Queen and Sojourn are available from the start for all players, while to play with Kiriko we will have to unlock her in the pass.
And maybe here we find the big but, and that is that the level of experience required to climb each level is too high. Although we have different challenges (weekly, daily, etc.), the experience gained in each game seems insufficient compared to what they ask for each promotion. A point to improve but which has an easy solution.
We spoke a few lines above of the new heroes. Three new options in a large list but they know how to add new options. In our experience, Junker Queen seems to be a better character, with the new tank being more damage oriented than defensive duties. It is ideal for attacking games and we fell in love with it from the first moment. Suffice to say that, in the role of the tank, he supplanted D. Va, the character, by far, with whom we played the most in the original title.
Additionally, Sojourn is added, a new fairly effective DPS, similar to Soldier 76 but with a higher damage output due to his abilities. Finally, we have Kiriko, the new title support. A character whose interest we do not quite grasp, but perhaps it is because, in general, the role of support and healer is not our strong point.
In short, we have three heroes who can revolutionize players’ choices in the game. Players who will have to adapt to a new type of games, and we’re not just talking about the new game mode, a variant to push the load but in both directions. Otherwise, because now the groups are five instead of six players. A drastic change that modifies the ecosystem of the game and forces to adapt quickly. So, now in each team there will be two DPS, two support characters and only one tank, so choosing the same will be more crucial than ever.
A change that we liked because it gives more importance to which character to choose, especially for those of us who play tank. Because it is not the same to defend an objective with Junker Queen than with Orisa, or to attack with Reinhardt than with D.Va. Now, it is essential to go according to the team and the situation.
Overwatch is dead. Long live Overwatch 2!
Overwatch 2 is a good new starting point. These days since its launch I read a lot of reviews about the game for maintaining the base of the original title and bringing some new features beyond the new season pass system, new heroes or new maps . And, although this is a correct assertion, this current of criticism does not seem correct to us. That 2 in the title might be to blame, but Blizzard brought up this sequel as an opportunity to expand on what was already there. Give a new air to your game, a new youth.
Something they get to a great extent. Because Overwatch 2 is a twist on the original formula. It fixes where the original title failed the most with a periodic new content plan, where every 8 weeks we will have new maps and heroes. A much higher pace than we are used to, since every two months we will have something totally new. In addition, in 2023 we will have the story missions that we have been waiting for. Not enough upgrades?
It may be that for one industry, the most critical, that includes Overwatch 2 as a sequel in itself, that’s rare. But Blizzard never promised such a thing and if a reformulation under a new prism. A prism that brought us the free to play format for everyone and a new perspective. Could it be better or more transgressive? Also, we do not deny it. But of course, Overwatch 2 delivers on everything it promised back then.
