Overwatch: Keeping It Simple
Dec. 28, 2015Overwatch: Keeping It Simple
From Blizzard’sOverwatch Website:
Fight for the Future. Overwatch is a team-based shooter where heroes do battle in a world of conflict. Soldiers. Scientists. Adventurers. Oddities. In a time of global crisis, an international task force of heroes banded together to restore peace to a war-torn world: OVERWATCH. It ended the crisis and helped to maintain peace in the decades that followed, inspiring an era of exploration, innovation, and discovery. But after many years, Overwatch’s influence waned, and it was eventually disbanded. Overwatch is gone… but the world still needs heroes..
Overwatch is a team based 6v6 shooter that features online play only, with a story that will be fleshed out via character backstory and gameplay objectives. Players will choose from a cast of 21heroeswho all fit into 1 of 4 differentroles(Offense, Defense, Support, Tank) and do battle across a variety of real world inspired locations and game modes. Upon dying, players can switch the hero they are using to create an ever evolving game experience and force on the fly adjustments to tactics. The action is fast and varied, keeping players’ heads on a swivel, yet each of the heroes are approachable, designed for any playstyle or skill level. If sniping and headshots are your thing you can giveWidowmakerorMcCreea try. Newer to the format and want to try something that protects your friends? Try the lovableBastionor the altruisticMercy. Would you rather just play a portly Mad Max inspired scrapper with a chain hook? MeetRoadhog.
As of right now, there are 2 knownGame Modes,PayloadandPoint Capture. Payload is a 6v6 game mode in which the attacking team’s objective is to move the payload to a delivery point, while the defenders must halt the attackers’ progress until time runs out. In Point Capture, the two teams battle over control of the map, one team on offense, the other on defense. The attackers’ goal is to capture critical objectives, while the defenders must maintain control over them until time runs out.
Each Hero is equipped with a variety ofabilitiesthat are determined by the roles that they play. Some abilities are weapon based, and some are standard actions that require a cooldown, such asReaper’sWraith Formwhich allows him to pass through enemies unharmed. Each hero also features anUltimate Abilitywhich is charged during the match by killing and damaging enemies. The ultimates embody the nature and personality of the hero and can often turn the tide of battle in a player’s favor.
Progressionandplayer rankhave yet to be finalized, but it’s something oft-requested by fans. Blizzard has stated that they are receptive to adding these elements into the final package but are adamant that they are not used to increase the power of players, and instead want the progression and rewards to be focused on cosmetic changes, such as outfits and color schemes for the heroes. This is to ensure that the playing field always remain level and accessible for players of any experience and skill.
Ranked matchplay is also on the itinerary, with Blizzard working to make sure the system on how to rank player skill is as precise as possible as well as what the proper team sizes for ranked play should be. With the beta registering over 7 million signups, we can safely assume that Overwatch will have a heavy presence in the streaming and esports venues, nestling up to its sibling Hearthstone in the most heavily viewed games category.
The final release of Overwatch will be a full retail game, but Overwatch has expressed a desire to not charge the players for more heroes, if we are to receive any more beyond the 21 included in the final version. If we are anticipating a game that redefines the cynical, we can cross our fingers here to hope for a user experience in all facets that is straightforward and fair. Gaming can get a little bleak sometimes both in theme and in action. Sometimes we lose sight of the word “play” when we pick turn on our devices, but maybe in Overwatch we will find a return to the word in its simplest sense. The complexity of the experience need not be lost. We’ll continue to provide development updates as the game nears launch both here and on the newly mintedOverwatch Wiki. Want to see it in action? Check out the gameplay trailer below:
Visit theOverwatch Wikito explore theHeroesand their diverseAbilities
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Editor at Fextralife. I look for the substantial in gaming and I try to connect video games to the emotions and stories they elicit. I love all things culture and history and have an odd fondness for the planet Jupiter. I think my dogs are pretty awesome too.
The thing I was most suprised about was it’s simplicity, especially the lack of any kind of in-match leveling tree. I expected to be a MOBA fusion like Battleborn but instead I see that it is more like TF2 than anything. That WYSIWYG approach is so uncommon anymore that it was jarring. I keep expecting that I’ve missed a bit of info because it’s that ingrained in us to expect things to be so complicated every step of the way.
And yet, the dynamic switching of heroes on the fly, and finding the best way to mix and match the 6 person team, means this isn’t going to be any casual walk in the park, although any person with time can play regardless of experience and skill level.
If this succeeds, it could be further evidence that a game need not overwhelm you with options and content and yet remain deep and addicting.
I hope the game is as good as TF2. Despite TF2 is now a hat trading simulator the game itself is good. Balanced classes, good maps, there is no pay to win. If they can do all that, this should be a good game. Now I’m looking at some info that says this game is $40 on PC, $60 on PS4 and Xbox One. I will wait for a better price, I want to get the PS4 version.
The Orange Box had way more content, the price was justified. $60 for a online shooter is too much and I don’t like to encourage this. I will wait for a better price and find if there is no pay to win and Blizzard did all right.
Great article!
I frequently listen to TotalBiscuit’s youtube channel and he has been praising this game for sometime. Like Serious_Much, I’m not a huge fan of FPS games; however, having heard so much about the game design I’m really hopeful for the influence this game may have on other games.
I’m very picky when it comes to visual art style, and Overwatch just isn’t my thing. Coupled with the fact that it is an FPS, I have no plans of playing the game. That being said, I think the encouragement of cooperative team gameplay and accessibility of the game is really brilliant in design. I hope that other game creators run with this idea.
If a game comes along that is third person, is from a genre or art style I can appreciate, and has compelling mechanics like this, then I’m sold.
Hopefully the game will inspire quality games in the future that utilize similar mechanics. I’m not calling for a bunch of poorly made copy cat games trying to jump on blizzard’s new band wagon. Having seen all the MMOs that have tried and failed to be the next WoW, we certainly don’t need that. I do think there is some real value to having team based games that actually encourage and promote cooperative play. Their business model (no play to win) sounds pretty solid too if they can stick with it.
I’m happy to pay full price for an online multiplayer only game if I expect to get at least dozens, if not hundreds of hours of game play out of it. If the games are made well then it is worth it in my mind. I tend to clock way more hours into multiplayer than I do into single player in most shooter games anyway.
The thing for me is FPS aren’t exactly my favourite genre, and online FPS isn’t something I’m super into. I enjoy dabbling with it, but FPS I play tend to be ones more story oriented like borderlands.
I would consider £50 a good investment if they were gonna add some future content for free. (Like maps and characters) The reason I am disappointed though is the preorder retail for the PC has a bare bones £30 version. Only difference is it doesn’t have the optional extras. The ps4 and XBone versions don’t have a basic version like this currently. I would get the PC barebones but I don’t have a PC good enough to run a game like that online. It’s just I don’t want to have to get the optional extra stuff they’re valuing at £20 that’s the issue. I am yet hopeful that the £30 option does come to console
They seem to be insistent that any extras will be purely cosmetic and that the heroes will be powered as shipped, to alleviate any pay to win concerns. I think that’s a part of the reason for the full retail price tag.
I see what you mean about the cost for online only but would it be justified if you could see yourself playing it for hundreds of hours?
They can make fantastic games that are very fun, my only concern is the cost can become a concern and a pay to win sort of nature that came out of hearthstone (I still avidly play, but am still a long way away from accessing all top tier decks)
I saw preorder price for Overwatch on consoles at £50. Considering it’s a game that is purely online, this price really disappointed me. If it was closer to a more reasonable price for a purely online shooter of £30 I’d be much more inclined to try it
