Overwatch Review: The Cavalry’s Here
(Image sourced from http://www.pcgamer.com/overwatch-will-release-in-june-2016-leaked-poster-reveals/)
Multiplayer only games never really interested me in anyway
shape or form, I’m more of a story guy, and the only multiplayer game I have
ever owned is the newest Star Wars Battlefront because, well it’s STAR WARS. So
when I first heard about Overwatch I dismissed it as just another League of
Legends trying to make hero based games big on console. But then Blizzard
started releasing Pixar-esque shorts about the universe and characters of the
game that were crammed with badass action, charm and buckets full of love-able
personality. Still sceptical I then researched into what the game actually
would be and found a rather loud and unstoppable wanting for the game begin to
root itself into my thoughts. So on launch day I went down to my local game
shop and as I passed over the money for the game with halted breath at the till
I hoped and prayed that I hadn’t just waited my hard earned cashola. Well I can
certainly tell you that I didn’t and this very metaphorical leap of faith was
so, so worth it.
The story as I understand it is: Many years ago a war broke
out between the robotic life o the planet and the organic life. To help stop
the war and save lives a special task force made up of specially gifted and
specially skilled men, women, bots and gorillas was assembled and Overwatch was
born; and they won. Now with the war over Overwatch’s role was moved to a more
diplomatic set, but warring ideologies within the organisation ripped it apart
as public opinion gradually fell the team was disbanded. But now many years
later the world is yet again falling into a perpetual state of turmoil and only
one group can help stop the world from becoming a ticking time bomb; who ya
gonna call, Overwatch, duh.
While the game doesn’t have a story mode, sadly, to continue the
really interesting and imaginative storyline that the shorts for this game laid
the ground work for, what does carry over to the game is the wealth of
personality and Pixar-style fun. This is seen most prominently in the characters
of the game. From each ones unique voice over lines that carry on the witty
banter seen in the shorts that even organically happen when waiting for the
round to start such as if two Tracers are on your team they will begin to talk
about how strange it is to have two of herself on the team, to the fantastic
and also unique designs of each hero you can choose from. Each hero’s look is
expertly keyed to their personality and traits, no character looks alike and
each one brings their own specialised flavour to the already bright and entertaining
aesthetic created by Blizzard for this game. When first playing the game I spent
many a moment just scrolling through the Hero gallery to see all the cool and
funny intros for each character, as these short animations give you a real
sense of who they are in a spectacular fashion.
The unique feeling of the characters also carries over to the
gameplay of each hero on offer. From the
speedy, time-warping glide of Tracer to the heavy footed transformer like
Bastion, there is a wealth of different styles and ways to play the game that not
only allows for everyone to find a hero that is just right for them; but also
makes creating a team of these heroes always a different experience as the
combination of these very different but all awesome powers and abilities makes
the game feel fresh and exciting in every match. Whether it be Widowmaker
covering Tracer’s fast-as-hell movement and barrage of automatic double pistol fire
as she flies across the map or Reinhardt shielding Bastion in turret mode as he
mows down a corridor of would be zone-invaders, there is a multitude of ways to
play this game that always keeps you on your toes looking for the best new
strategy.
And the personality doesn’t stop at the characters as shed
loads of it can also be found in the environment. When you get a brief second
to stop and pause from the frantic and exhilarating combat of the game, the
area around you will always be crammed full of meaningful environments or
objects that add to the world building and feel of this universe. Each map not
only feels different enough so the game doesn’t just become a blur of dark
corridors, but instead you are globetrotting from icy facility to Hollywood
backlot, but each also doesn’t feel so distant in style that you are just being
flung into a random arena to fight; instead the game feels like a cohesive and
well mapped out world that just so happens to have great map design to allow
for all manner of gameplay styles to be showcased and utilised. From the
ground-bound, guerrilla tactics (pun intended), brute force of a literal tank
to the building crawling advantage of being a full time ninja, every map accommodates
your deadly needs.
What also helps this world feel so cohesive is the overall
Pixar-esque, cartoony look and feel to the game. Every object has the jagged,
quirky shape to it that you’d find in your Saturday morning cartoons, and every
character, even the serious bro-shooter character of Soldier 76, has a nice
coating of popping colour in his costume and animation style physique. While not
as polished as the graphics of the newest Ratchet and Clank, they are quite
impressive still in this game, especially when you see how fast the game runs,
being able to keep up with the literal explosive carnage on screen but still
holding up a solid 60 frames per second while up a cartoony graphical sheen
that even the Spectacular Spiderman series would be jealous of.
One of my biggest fears coming into this game was how
co-ordinated and together I would have to be with my team, not really a fan of
talking to strangers on a mic or being told I have to do something when I’d rather
just teleport behind the Reinhardt’s shield and blast him to smithereens. But thankfully
the team co-ordination needed in this game isn’t the staggering heights of that
needed in League of Legends. Provided you’re not facing the whole team at once,
it is quite in your ability to take on a considerable number of foes solo and
create some death defying and epic moments of your own. That being said,
sticking with your team and forming a wall of unstoppable power isn’t both
impossible or a bad idea either. I found copious amounts of joy playing in both
styles; and it was surprisingly easy to create an Avengers-esque moment as you
see your team unleash their specific and fantastic ultimates, one after the
other, to hold back the enemies forces as you too give a hand, or sticky bomb
or two, to help that cause. Staying as a team, on the whole, felt natural and
so did leaving for your own bullet ridden path, I never felt like I was
betraying anyone or getting in anyones way; and overall I have left every match
with a multitude of badass moments and war stories to reminisce and re-tell to
my friends.
(Image sourced from http://gameranx.com/features/id/54847/article/overwatch-how-to-counter-every-hero-tips-strategies/)
What also helped heighten these badass moments was the
awesome soundtrack on hand. As epic as any superheroes anthem it always seemed
to swell up at just the right moments to give me that epic boost of motivation,
creating a perfect moment time and time again.
In an age of buggy releases, spotty server coverage on launch
weeks that even a haloed angel couldn’t save it is truly impressive that I have
had no issue at all with Overwatch. Every-time I click to play a game not only
do I actually get into a game instead of an excuse about Romeo but the
connection I have whilst in the game never falters, even when it has to put up
with Tracer constantly zipping around the map like an overexcited squirrel. What
is also impressive is the speedy loading times between and when searching for
matches. I can barely reach for my phone after a match to check what’s new on
my YouTube feed before the character selection screen comes up for the next
perilous adventure. After Destiny’s unbearable ship voyages that just seemed to
last this guardian’s lifetime; I am truly shocked and amazed at how fast this
game is on all fronts.
In the game there are obviously various modes to play. Throughout
your campaign of Overwatch you will have capture zones from the enemy, keep you
control of a singular central zone, and defend or escort an on-rails package
from one checkpoint to the other. Each game mode is keyed to a particular map,
so you will never have an escort mission on a map where you had to steal zones
from the enemy and vice versa. While this allowed Blizzard to tailor each map
completely to the desired game mode this does mean that once you’ve played
every map, then you’ve basically played the whole game. While an argument can
be made for the wealth of characters and how each one feels so different that you
haven’t played the game until you’ve experienced all of them you haven’t really
played all the game; if you miraculously find your perfect match in the first
few rounds then once you play all the maps you have pretty much exhausted all
the content on offer. While I am still have a hell of a time playing this game,
the fact that it is just these few maps and objectives I am replaying does
linger on my mind and not give this game a very long window to be kept in my
PS4.
Another negative of the game is the awful menu system in
place here. While getting to the Hero gallery to equip skins, emotes, etc, is
easy to find, not much else is. I am still hazy on how to get to my Overwatch
profile to change my icon and when finding a game your options are very limited.
You don’t get a choice of which game mode you would like to play but instead
you are always flung into a random search where yu are not quite sure what you are
going to be doing next. While this aspect of it being unknown can keep the wait
from game to game fresh and exciting, there are obviously modes I like more
than others and would love to play uninterrupted by a random match of say escorting
a package when all I want to do is capture some damn enemy zones.
(Image sourced from http://www.gamespot.com/articles/overwatch-story-primer/1100-6440032/)
However what does keep me coming back for more out of the
great personality and awesome gameplay of Overwatch is the great sense of
reward the game gives you. Whether this be the very coveted endgame ‘best play’
where the most badass moment of the game is shown to every player as the one
who committed such an epic act has their gaming handle blasted out in a
glorious light of glory for all to see; or the also endgame cards where the
players vote on who’s actions shown on the cards is the most impressive, such
as Wildhair111 Eliminated 26 players, or Random98225 held the most zones in the
match. Each gives that extra boost of competition to the game that makes you desperate
to be on the end game slate showing off a jaw dropping kill or gain praise for
your heroic hard work, and always makes the closing of a match a very hopeful
and gratifying affair.
Another reward system that has kept me coming back for more
is the loot of the game. While you can pay to unlock characters different
intros, lines they can say in game, etc; the main way you unlock them is by
obtaining them in random loot drops. These ae awarded when you level up, which
is at a good and gratifying pace instead of the slow grind some games make you
progress to just give in and pay for that shiny new skin, and are a great way,
which has definitely kept me hooked to the game as you never know what you are
getting and while 9 times out of 10 you are going to get a skin for a character
you don’t ever use, but when you do get the hero intro you have been clambering
for since you saw it in their character options, nothing can beat the feeling
of uncovering such a bountiful booty
Overall, I never thought I’d ever get this game, never mind
enjoy the hell out of it. The cartoony look, the personality filled characters,
and the fantastically unique feel of each and every one of those characters
creates a the perfect stage for a chaotic but ultimately fun gameplay loop that’s
rewards and just uncanny ability to create badass moments before my eyes keeps
me coming back for more. While the what you can actually play seems abit thin
and lacking in content, when you can make me feel like a team of superheroes
whilst we zoom, bash and blast our way through a map, you know you have my approval.
Overwatch = 8/10
Why not check out my YouTube channel, BurtonReviews, where I
upload awesome gaming montages put to badass songs or scores every Sunday.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed.
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