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Preview: Overwatch

The payload of Overwatch hype has been slowly trundling towards its release date since the beta first opened back in October of 2015. Gamers had got their first taste of the new team-based objective-based first person shooter and they wanted more. I’ve been one of the lucky few to step through the pearly gates of Overwatch and try it out; here’s what I think.

It’s clear right off the bat that Blizzard has nailed character design and diversity in Overwatch. Every character excels in some way, giving them a time and a play style where they’re most effective. Pharah’s aerial barrage of rockets can push back a stubborn enemy defense. Reaper can teleport behind the enemy and eliminate their squishy targets. Reinhardt is a nearly unbreakable wall and Mercy is the perfect healer.

No one character’s kit is without a weakness though, and the race to counter the other teams composition never ends. Want to stump Reinhardt? Pick an agile character who can dodge his charge and flank him. Is that pesky Reaper getting you down? A smart Symmetra can ruin his day with a few well placed sentry turrets. Its this paper-scissors-rock style of gameplay that drives each match and makes you feel like you can always swing the match back into your favour.

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The beta features 8 maps split across the two major game mode variants, escort and assault. Escort see’s the attacking team escorting a payload from point A to point B. The objective only moves if it has teammates around it though, leaving them vulnerable to attack from the defenders. The defenders can also push back the objective by standing near it when no attackers are around, forcing them back to the last checkpoint. The path between each checkpoint is masterfully crafted, providing windows of advantage to both attackers and defenders. Choke points allow defenders to put up a staunch effort but also reward a skilled attack while open spaces make sure it’s not always sunny for the defending team.

Assault features two variants under its banner, one with a traditional attack/defend set up and the other forcing both teams to attack and hold the same objective. The latter is a best-of-three scenario across three smaller maps with only one objective each. The map makers have done well here too with each of the smaller maps feeling totally different from one another and ensuring that both teams always have an equal chance of seizing the point, provided they work together.

This of course brings us to the toughest hurdle of any team based objective game: teamwork. Yes, it’s right there in the name, but that doesn’t mean that players on your team will ever feel the need to work together. When a team clicks it’s great, you’re always one step ahead of the opposition and you feel like a battering ram smashing through their defenses. If your team doesn’t feel particularly inclined to work together though you’re left feeling more like the wall.

I found that teams often fell apart on defense more so than attack with previously competent groups more inclined to chase eliminations than hold a point. Too many players seem scared of the meet grinder Edge of Tomorrow-esque gameplay defending sometimes requires where you’re forced to die, die and die again just to hold a point. Many of the Defense heroes also have a much higher skill requirement than the other roles which can also lead to a very one sided match.

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These sore points afflict almost every team game to some degree and to Blizzard’s credit, most have been alleviated. In time more players will figure out the paper-scissors-rock style of counter gameplay and matches will get closer. The systems are already in place to reduce the issue and things only stand to get better.

Overwatch already has a lot going for it and it’s still in beta. The map based variants of each game mode are a nice touch and give each hero more room to shine. Each hero feels different and no one kit is too strong. The maps themselves are interesting, vibrant and alive while still being markedly different from theme through to feel.

Blizzard does seem to be putting an awful lot of eggs into the Overwatch basket and I really hope it pays off. While I think the high entry cost will hamper Overwatch as an esport, as least initially, if Blizzard continue to support it properly I can definitely see it flourishing.

In short, Overwatch is a fun, well designed team based game that deserves the hype it’s getting. May can’t come soon enough… especially if you consider the open beta that essentially starts that month.

Overwatch is coming to PC, PS4 and Xbox One on 24 May.


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About the author

Hamish Lindsay

Avid reader and general geek, justifying the time I spend playing games by writing about them. I try not to discriminate by genre, but I remember story more than gameplay. I’ve been playing League for longer than Akali and I’m still Silver. Fallout 3 and MGS3 may be the pinnacle of gaming.