surveillance 2The Valentine’s Day event includes a dating sim – something fans have been asking for for years. There are quite a few huggable characters on the shooter’s roster, and the game has spawned a massive, ravenous fandom eager to speculate on which heroes would be the best match and how their dates would go. lover’s watcha bite-sized dating sim launched to celebrate Valentine’s Day (it’s available until February 28th) is Blizzard’s answer to this passionate and frequent demand.
That’s a pity then lover’s watch feels so hesitant. There are two dating routes, one for Mercy and one for Genji, but both follow the same formula. Players go on three dates with their hero of choice, aided by Hanzo – I mean, Cupid – in a pink toga. Choosing the right answers will sweep the hero off his feet and into his arms. Missing the dates means going home alone.
That’s an absolutely sweet premise, but it’s undermined by the fact that the narrative is so metal-heavy. Cupid, the protagonist’s inner monologue, and even your date constantly spice up their dialogue with Overwatch jokes. Mercy blushes… much like her pink Mercy skin! Haha, she really spends a lot of time healing needy DPS! Like Genji! Genji needs healing! You remember this meme, right? Remember Genji players often say they need healing? lover’s watch
lover’s watch was partially taken over by Psyop, the studio behind it Addicted to You: A Dating Sim That’s Dead by Daylight – another game that constantly revolved around breaking the fourth wall by poking the player and making references. A Addicted to You The run would last long enough that you get at least a moment or two of real connection, where things slow down and simmer for a bit of slow-burning romance.
lover’s watch has no time for that; The pace is too breakneck as the game rushes towards another joke about the Official Overwatch Cookbook. There are some sweet moments for characterization and connection, like Mercy sharing her dream for the world to discover her true identity as Dr. Angela Ziegler accepts, but then it’s straight back to the shenanigans.
It’s a shame because I would have loved to see the concept of an Overwatch dating sim being seriously and directly addressed. After so many years of asking for a product like this, it feels hard to get a silly, silly answer. lover’s watch aims to be accessible and inclusive, even for brand new players, but I was hoping for a deeper dive into such an intriguing concept. At least the Hanzo skin is cute.
