When Overwatch 2 was first announced, it was immediately met with controversy from fans who saw it as an attempt to inject unwanted free-to-play mechanics into a game that already cost full price and included loot boxes. The infamous headlining feature of a PvE co-op campaign mode that Overwatch 2 never saw released is another sore point for fans who were disappointed by the game early on in its life. However, 4 years after its launch, I think Overwatch 2 has finally surpassed its predecessor and has proved itself worthy of being considered a true sequel.
I’ve been a fan of Overwatch since the first game was released back in 2016, and had played it consistently throughout the entirety of its 6-year lifespan. Like other fans, I was skeptical of Overwatch 2 when it was announced, especially since I had paid full price for the game at launch and saw the move to the free-to-play model as a huge downgrade. While I bounced off Overwatch 2 after only a couple of seasons, feeling like it was a shell of its predecessor, coming back to Overwatch 2 with Season 20 has shown that there’s a night-and-day difference between the game then and now.
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Overwatch 2 Has Made Some Fantastic Changes from Overwatch 1
5v5 Matches Are Smoother Than Overwatch 1’s 6v6
Aside from the switch to the free-to-play model, the biggest change Overwatch 2 made over its predecessor was the shift to a 5v5 format. Previously, Overwatch matches were 6v6: two Tanks, two DPS, and two Support heroes per team. With the change to 5v5 dropping one of the two Tanks, the door opened up for matches to be less of a stalemate between two heroes with massive shields, making matches feel far more dynamic than before. As a Support main, the loss of a Tank scared me initially, but the way Overwatch 2‘s heroes have been rebalanced to account for this change over the seasons feels better than I remember it being when the game launched.
Overwatch 2 has also brought back the 6v6 format for players to experience via the Arcade game modes.
The Battle Pass, Free Loot Boxes, and Maximilien’s Vault
When Overwatch 2 launched, the lack of loot boxes in favor of the Battle Pass was one of the reasons I quickly lost interest in the game. In Overwatch 1, earning weekly free loot boxes was one of the main ways the game kept me coming back week after week. These free weekly loot boxes earned by completing matches were added back in Season 15, which I feel nicely complements the free route of the Battle Pass to give free-to-play players a solid number of opportunities to earn cosmetics. Maximilien’s Vault is another feature I’m glad was added, because it gives me the opportunity to get some of the more premium skins at a greatly reduced price.
Overwatch 2 Boasts More Content Than Overwatch 1 Ever Did
Overwatch 2 Has Released More New Heroes Than Overwatch 1 in a Shorter Time Frame
- Sojourn
- Junker Queen
- Kiriko
- Ramattra
- Lifeweaver
- Illari
- Mauga
- Venture
- Juno
- Hazard
- Freja
- Wuyang
- Vendetta
Overwatch 1 had the advantage of launching with a total of 21 playable heroes, and Overwatch 2 brought all the first game’s 32 heroes back when it launched alongside 3 brand-new ones. Since then, Overwatch 2 has added 10 new heroes over the course of 4 years, whereas the first Overwatch only saw 11 new heroes released across 6 years. While it’s possible some of Overwatch 2‘s new heroes were planned for the first game before development shifted to the sequel, it’s undeniable that the release of new playable characters for Overwatch 2 has remained a lot more consistent than Overwatch 1.
Perks Are a Game-Changing Mechanic
Gameplay-wise, the addition of Perks has made Overwatch 2 feel like a completely different game from when it launched. The 5v5 format already forced me to rethink my playstyle, but learning how to optimize the major and minor perks I pick during a match has added a new layer of strategy that I think makes Overwatch 2 feel even deeper than the first game. Through Overwatch 2‘s perk system, some hero skills like Hanzo’s Storm Arrows are completely reworked to include elements from their original Overwatch 1 kit with Scatter Arrows. Another example is Bastion getting the ability to heal himself like he could in the first Overwatch via the perk system, which I appreciate as a longtime Overwatch fan.
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Overwatch Stadium Adds a New Challenge to the Game
Stadium is arguably one of the defining features of Overwatch 2, creating a brand-new type of gameplay experience for both casual and competitive players. Even if Stadium doesn’t include every Overwatch 2 hero, the fact that so many different types of builds are possible is a testament to how much more complex Overwatch 2 has gotten compared to its predecessor. Unlocking Items and Powers from the Armory by earning Stadium Cash, including from bounties on opponents, makes Stadium mode feel like Overwatch‘s take on the Valorant or Counter-Strike formula.
Overwatch 2’s Casual Modes Have a Lot to Offer Players Too
Even more casual Overwatch 2 players have a lot to enjoy with all the new game modes on offer. Sometimes I just want to hop into an Overwatch 2 match for fun, so game modes like the recurring Quickplay: Hacked event or the addition of Assault to the Arcade playlist. While I appreciate seeing some of the seasonal game modes from Overwatch 1 return, like Lucioball, Mei’s Snowball Offensive, and Uprising, there are so many new game modes that I feel myself more drawn to those when I’m in the mood for a casual experience during their respective events.
Even without the PvE campaign that was promised when Overwatch 2 was first announced, the game feels like a huge step up from its predecessor at this point in its life. I was convinced Overwatch 2 would never recover from its controversial launch when I fell off the game somewhere around Season 10. However, Blizzard has really turned the game around to the point where Overwatch 2 has become the definitive Overwatch experience, eclipsing anything the previous game did during its lifespan.
- Released
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August 10, 2023
- ESRB
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T For Teen // Blood, Mild Language, Use of Tobacco, Violence
