I’m into it, but as is, it’s going to be polarizing
The state of Blizzard is constantly in flux, and in the midst ofDiablo Immortalcoming to PCand making that big “mobile-only” reveal fiasco all for nothing, we’re also seeingthe wide rolloutoftheOverwatch 2beta. Quick vibe check? I’m game for moreOverwatch, but you shouldn’t expect much right now if you’re diving directly into the beta.
Upon booting it up, I wouldn’t blame people for thinking they accidentally launched a public test server build for the originalOverwatch.
At the moment there are two options on the main menu: versus, and heroes (which provides a list of playable characters). That list consists entirely of oldOverwatchheroes, some of whom have new facial hair (feel free to peruse above), plus the newcomer Sojourn. That list will grow over time, but that’s what we have to work with now, and I’m sure it’ll underwhelm some folks who are coming into theOverwatch 2beta expecting the newness sheen of a sequel.
Clicking on versus grants you access to an unranked queue, as well as a custom game menu and a training option (it’s the same practice range asOverwatch 1). In my first game, I queued into a match onIlios: a map I’ve played several hundred times. For snap moments I forgot I was playing a sequel, even using the new character. One of the chief changes, the 5v5 format, was also tough to notice at first. Make no mistake: it will change high-level play on a fundamental level, and usher in all sorts of new meta discussions and strategies. At a glance, it’s going to feel like the same basic gameplay for most people, with the same sound effects, on many of the same maps, with the same announcer.
The full map list available in the beta (at launch) includes: Ilios, Lijiang Tower, Oasis, Circuit Royal, Dorado, Route 66, Watchpoint: Gibraltar, Eichenwalde, King’s Row, Midtown, Colosseo, and New Queen Street (the latter two are new). Push — where you need to help a robot move something across the map by escorting it — is the new game mode. There’s no guarantee you’ll get any of them when queuing up in the beta.
I do like Push, and had the chance to test it out several times in theOverwatch 2beta. The constant sense of literal push and pull is very fun, and creates a lot of situations where conflict is forced, rather than slowly baited out. The visual of the robot actually moving the objective barrier is flashy, too, and adds to the allure of the skirmish — more than a passive payload, at least. It’s something that would have fit at home in the original game.
As for Sojourn, she has access to a rapid-fire railgun (that can also use an alt-fire high-impact burst shot), a power slide (that you may cancel into a big jump as her traversal skill), a disruptor shot (an area-of-effect energy burst that snares), and her ultimate, overclock (which basically supercharges her gun). She essentially functions as a hybrid ranged character, with access to the core railgun snipe as her alt-fire. The idea is that you’ll see-saw fire and alternate between your left- and right-click, as the latter “recharges.” If you use her ultimate, you can snipe to your heart’s content.
It’s an interesting playstyle, but I don’t really get a solid theme out of her, despite Cherise Boothe’s spirited performance. Maybe that’ll change over time as we’re introduced to more and more lore and Sojourn’s role in the larger story. ButOverwatchhas an issue jugging characters as it is with an arguably bloated roster.
This isn’t even really getting into another key issue: a lack of PVE in the beta. In case you missed it, Blizzard announced that it was “de-coupling” PVE from PVP this past March. Which brings me to a crossroads: PVE is the main thing I want. I’ve wanted it sinceOverwatchfirst came out in 2016. For now, it’s kind of like we’re gettingOverwatch1.5. I suspect this could be the prevailing wind for many people onceOverwatch 2arrives with just the PVP component in tow.
MoreOverwatch can be a good thing. I even had fun playing theOverwatch 2beta! As someone who has played since theoriginalOverwatchbeta, it’s been a trip to see all of the subtle changes in this new iteration, and play with a few of the reworks that fundamentally alter how some of the roster operates. Hardcore players will get a lot more here even out of the beta game, as they pour over the patch notes and tweaks.
But right now I’m not convinced thatOverwatch 2is going to make the impact Blizzard thinks it will, unless the esports scene comes back in full force once things return to normal. Paying a DLC price for a full PVE module forOverwatch 1, and not calling itOverwatch 2, would make the medicine go down better.
At the moment it’s kind of an uphill battle of a sell; even devoid of Blizzard’s recent history.
