Overwatch 2 (for PC) Preview

Few people could predict OverwatchCultural impact when released in 2016. The self-proclaimed “Hero Shooter” has captivated big fans with its colorful character cast, character’s unique abilities, and fast-paced multiplayer gameplay against two teams of six. each other.Overwatch has won numerous awards and praises and has become one of the most popular. eSports A game in progress (creating the Overwatch League in 2017).Some people consider it one The best multiplayer game It has been released so far.

Six years later, all eyes are paying attention to Blizzard.The company has been Disputed Since the first 2019 of Overwatch 2 revealed. Now, Blizzard hopes to be able to regain public opinion by making enough changes to Overwatch to make the 6-year-old multiplayer shooter feel fresh again. After spending some time in the second Overwatch 2 beta, it’s unclear if Blizzard will catch lightning in the bottle again.The goodness of the core overwatch remains, but it’s actually PC gamesDisadvantage.

(Credit: Blizzard Entertainment)

Overwatch 2’s new look and sound

On the surface, Overwatch 2 doesn’t look much different from its predecessor. Graphically, the game has improved lighting and shaders, as well as other new effects of fog and cloth. The hero looks new too (although some changes are more important than others). In addition, Blizzard has introduced new and enhanced audio with a convolution reverb system that changes the sound and footsteps of the weapon according to the environment. Still, despite these improvements, Overwatch 2 is very similar to Overwatch 1, from the UI to the hero quip.

On the topic of heroes, two new characters have joined the battle. stay (The best DPS character for newcomers) and Junker Queen (tanks with a variety of kits). All characters in the original game will revert to Overwatch 2, but with minor and major tweaks to their playstyle.

One of the biggest gameplay changes is the switch from a 12-player match to a 10-player match. This will change the player’s configuration to one tank, two DPS, and two support heroes. In a live stream in May 2022, game director Aaron Keller said: What the other 11 players are doing on the battlefield. Removing two of them simplifies everything and allows players to understand everything that’s happening around them and make better choices. “

In reality, the difference is noticeable. Tanks are optimized to be more aggressive, so Overwatch 2 feels like a constantly moving game. The new passive buff offers a small bonus to all characters with the same role. This will prompt you to change the way you play. In this beta build, a new gameplay strategy was still in place. That said, once together, the match feels even faster than the original game.

(Credit: Blizzard Entertainment)

Cavalry is free

The second big change is also the most controversial: Overwatch 2 Free playAdopt a seasonal update approach such as Rocket league.. The first season ends on October 4th in parallel with the game and includes three new heroes. 6 new maps. New game mode. And a few dozen cosmetics. In addition, when Overwatch 2 drops, Blizzard kills the original Overwatch. You can carry over cosmetics, unopened loot boxes, and unused coins, but shutting down paid games and moving to the free-to-play model will always leave a sour taste in the gamer’s mouth.

Moreover, despite tweaking the game’s meta, Overwatch 2 still doesn’t feel like a sequel. In fact, the new PVE mode, which is the core of Overwatch 2, wasn’t part of the beta. PVE mode includes collaborative story missions and individual hero missions. In this mode, you can use the skill tree to level up your hero and unlock customization options to change abilities and create your own builds.

(Credit: Blizzard Entertainment)

Overwatch 2 Beta had a lot of the same maps as the OG title, although the graphics were slightly better. I was still discussing the party composition with the team and was called a slur in voice chat and typed “gg” instead of “gg”. Even the new tug-of-war game type, Push, didn’t add anything so exciting.Hard-core fans may appreciate small changes, but the average Overwatch player may not notice the big difference between the two. shooter..

It’s clear that Blizzard is listening to player feedback and adjusting gameplay. A series of new changes have already been implemented since the first beta, but the real problem remains. Are there enough changes to guarantee the existence of this sequel? I can’t say it now.

Even in its current state, the game is better than ever, but is it a major overhaul? Not even a little. In its current state, Overwatch 2 feels like an extension, a huge patch, or a soft reboot.

Unorthodox sequel

It may be premature to make a strict judgment on Overwatch 2. I haven’t actually seen most of the new content, so it will take some time to see it. Overwatch 2 PVP will be available this year, but the promised PVE and story mode will drop in 2023. Blizzard Roadmap(Opens in a new window).. I’m sure Overwatch 2 will be fun to play, but I’m not sure if it’s the sequel people wanted. That said, Overwatch 2 is a free-to-play game, so if you want to try it out, you won’t lose anything but hard drive space.

Overwatch 2 arrives at your PC (via BattleNet). Playstation 5PlayStation 4, Xbox series XXbox One, and Nintendo switch October 4, 2022.

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