In defense of Overwatch Rush adopts a new style of play

After being rumored for years, Blizzard has finally revealed Monitoring mobile games. Its announcement essentially came out of nowhere, but given the positivity surrounding the main game at the moment, announcing Overwatch Rush now was really the best possible move. The disastrous revelation of Diablo Immortal — yes, everyone had phones — probably meant that Blizzard was looking for the safest possible announcement method for its Monitoring spin-off, and a short blog post along with a fairly brief look at early gameplay fits that strategy. But when it comes to the game in question, there seems to be a range of opinions.

While Overwatch Rush being built by a group of developers outside of Team 4 is a good first step, as it means resources won't be pulled from the main game, some players were shocked by the top-down style. It seems that many players imagined Monitorings mobile game as a 1-to-1 recreation of the classic Monitoring. Some Monitoring streamers reacted with confusion, laughter or disappointment, while others had more optimistic views of the spin-off. It is the latter group that I am inclined to agree with, as translating the existing Monitoring gameplay for mobile feels like an uphill battle that wouldn't be worth tackling in the first place.

Why normal Overwatch just wouldn't work on mobile

I have almost played 2000 hours Monitoringand in that time I've had no shortage of instances where teams fall apart and don't work together. i adore Monitoringbut its best and worst aspect tends to be the community depending on who you get matched with. A lack of communication, a player leaning, or the unfortunately common appearance of a pitcher is all it takes for a game to fall apart, as it is extremely difficult to carry a team on your own. Imagine then applying a team-focused video game formula to mobile devices, where players can be pulled away from their screens at a moment's notice.

Normal Monitoring is inherently competitive, with players needing to synergize ultimates, pinpoint enemies, and communicate as often as possible. And while there are undoubtedly competitive players on mobile platforms, the reality is that most mobile players will be killing time or playing casually. Also quickly record games Monitoring can get excessively sweaty, and competitive matches can regularly last up to 20 minutes or more, which just doesn't fit into mobile gaming. Also get into a match of Monitoring is such a process these days, with ban phases, map voting and team composition, that clashes with the usual mindset of mobile gaming, where players expect to be in and out of matches constantly.

Overwatch's Switch 1 Port is the best argument against Rush being an Overwatch clone

Image via Blizzard

Apart from Monitorings gameplay doesn't translate well to mobile because it's arguably too complicated, there's also the subject of performance to consider. While the Switch 2 version of the Monitoring will hopefully work well, the original Switch version of the game is essentially proof that a simple Monitoring mobile port would probably have been a disappointment. Performance issues, dim picture, hard to read screens, lack of accuracy when aiming; these were all issues that the Switch version of the game has encountered, and the same would likely have been true of a mobile version of Monitoring also. After all, not all players have advanced units, which could have put them at a distinct disadvantage in FPS matches. This is where the less stressful top-down gameplay is Overwatch Rush can save the day.

Overwatch Rush's simple, top-down gameplay is perfect for mobile

Based on the three minutes photos are shared for Overwatch Rushits name is correct; players will fight for control zones that fill up faster than they do in normal Monitoringwhere the catch percentage fill time is more comparable to the faster rounds Monitorings Stadium mode. There's also only a single round per match, Ultimates and regular abilities load faster, and character movement is noticeably slower than it is in regular Monitoring. All of this comes in addition to a switch to 4v4, which should simplify engagement and make it easier to take in what's happening on screen.

It's hard to imagine first person Monitoring feels good to play on mobile, as players would not only have to juggle all the usual chaos, but also deal with camera and character movements. With the top-down approach, they see the entire battlefield for one Monitoring map, pointing at who they want to shoot or heal, and easily being able to press a series of buttons to activate the ability of their choice. First-person games can be synonymous with Monitoringbut for a mobile game, a top-down strategy makes infinitely more sense. Sure, it will take some getting used to, but it can help to give Overwatch Rush its own identity while making it an easier entry point for new fans.

Image via Blizzard

To be clear, I think there is room for Overwatch Rush fail in some areas. Its skin, which will be a mix of fan-favorite cosmetics and new designs, could easily be too expensive. Its more cartoony art style is hit or miss, with some heroes, like Doomfist, looking good (love the beard) while others, like beloved Support hero Mercy, miss the mark. Hero cadence will be extremely important to the game, as will the regular addition of game modes, maps and free bounties to hunt. When it comes to the game, I just can't bring myself to find many problems. The top-down approach suits the platforms the game will be played on much better than first or third person would, and based on the gameplay, Overwatch Rush keeps the series' identity intact despite its bold format change. Ultimately, a mobile game shows that Blizzard (and Microsoft) has confidence in the value of Monitoring IP, which can only be a good thing for the franchise in the long run. And if Rush lives up to its potential, the series could reach new heights in terms of popularity.