When Overwatch 2 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 title features in a PvE co-op campaign mode that Overwatch 2 never saw released is another sore point for fans who were disappointed with the game early in its life. But 4 years after launch I think Overwatch 2 has finally surpassed its predecessor and has proven itself worthy of consideration as a proper sequel.
I've been a fan of Monitoring since the first game was released back in 2016, and had been playing it consistently throughout its 6 year lifespan. Like other fans, I was skeptical 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. As I bounced away Overwatch 2 after only a couple of seasons, it feels like it was a shell of its predecessor, coming back to Overwatch 2 with season 20 has shown that there is a night-and-day difference between the game then and now.
Overwatch 2's Mid-Season 20 update doesn't hit a target hard enough
Overwatch 2 Season 20's mid-season update brings a particularly powerful character, but the hard-hitting hero needs to be hit even harder.
Overwatch 2 has made some great 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 move to a 5v5 format. Previous, Monitoring the matches were 6v6: two tanks, two DPS and two support heroes per team. When the switch to 5v5 dropped one of the two tanks, it opened the door for matches to become less of a stalemate between two heroes with massive shields, making matches feel much more dynamic than before. As a Support main, the loss of a Tank scared me initially, but the way Overwatch 2s heroes have been rebalanced to account for this change in 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.
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 1earning free loot boxes every week 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 in Season 15, which I think complements the free Battle Pass route to give free-to-play players a large number of opportunities to earn cosmetics. Maximilien's Vault is another feature I'm glad I added, as it gives me the ability to get some of the more premium skins at a heavily reduced price.
Overwatch 2 has more content than Overwatch 1 ever did
Overwatch 2 has released more new heroes than Overwatch 1 in a shorter time frame
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Stay
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Junker Queen
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Kiriko
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Ramatra
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Lifeweaver
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Illari
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Mauga
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Dare
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Juno
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Danger
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Freya
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Wuyang
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Vendetta
Overwatch 1 had the advantage of launching with a total of 21 playable heroes, and Overwatch 2 brought back all of the first game's 32 heroes when it launched along with 3 brand new ones. Since then, Overwatch 2 has added 10 new heroes over the course of four years, while the first Monitoring only saw 11 new heroes released in 6 years. Although it is possible some of Overwatch 2s new heroes were planned for the first game before development moved to the sequel, it is undeniable that the launch of new playable characters for Overwatch 2 has remained much more consistent than Overwatch 1.
Perks are a game-changing mechanic
Gameplay wise, the addition of Perks has done Overwatch 2 feels like a completely different game than when it launched. The 5v5 format already forced me to rethink my playstyle, but learning how to optimize the major and minor advantages I choose during a match has added a new layer of strategy that I believe makes Overwatch 2 feels even deeper than the first game. By Overwatch 2s perk system, some hero skills such as Hanzo's Storm Arrows are completely reworked to include elements from their original Overwatch 1 kit with scatter arrows. Another example is Bastion gaining the ability to heal himself like he could in the first Monitoring via the benefit system, which I have appreciated for a long time Monitoring fan.
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Overwatch Stadium adds a new challenge to the game
Stadium is undoubtedly one of the defining characteristics of Overwatch 2creating a whole new kind of gaming experience for both casual and competitive players. Although Stadium does not include all 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 received 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 Monitorings put on Valorant or Counter-Strike formula.
Overwatch 2's Casual Modes also have a lot to offer players
Even more relaxed Overwatch 2 players have a lot to enjoy with all the new game modes on offer. Sometimes I just want to jump into one Overwatch 2 match for fun, so game modes like the recurring Quickplay: Hacked event or the addition of Assault to the Arcade roster. 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 find myself more drawn to them 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 first announced, the game feels like a big 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 dropped the game somewhere around Season 10. However, Blizzard has really turned the game around to the point where Overwatch 2 has become the definitive one Monitoring experience, eclipsing everything the previous game did in its lifetime.
- Released
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August 10, 2023
- ESRB
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T for Teens // Blood, mild language, tobacco use, violence
