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Review: 7 reasons why "Overwatch" successfully stands out from the multiplayer shooter pack

30.5.2016

Translation: machine translated

Brightly coloured, 21 playable heroes and no leaderboard: Overwatch" is trying to shake up the overcrowded shooter market with an unusual recipe. Find out now why it works and where there are still areas for improvement.

If there's one thing we're not short of, it's multiplayer shooters. Gamers love to shoot - preferably at each other. If you want to stand out in this crowded field, it takes a lot. For example, to be called Blizzard. The studio behind "Diablo", "Starcraft" and "World of Warcraft" is landing one success after another. However, this is no easy task, especially when you are up against established and now free titles such as "Team Fortress 2", which was undoubtedly a major source of inspiration.

Created from the remnants of the failed and cancelled MMO "Project Titan", Blizzard has conjured up "Overwatch". A competitive multiplayer shooter in which two teams of six players each take aim at each other. The game may not reinvent the wheel, but the following elements set it apart from the competition.

1. beginner-friendly, but with depth

Blizzard has gone to great lengths to make it as easy as possible for new players to get started. In addition to a tutorial, this is particularly noticeable in the controls. Pressing the F1 key (on PC) displays the key assignment with a short description. Instead of being overwhelmed with countless commands, the controls are limited to a handful of buttons. This means you can quickly find your way around even when changing classes. And even those who don't care about the info menu can see which buttons can be used at any time thanks to the practical user interface.

Most heroes (more on this in a moment) have a primary attack, two abilities and a super move that charges slowly. This may not seem like much at first glance, but it takes a lot of practice to really master a character.

2. hero selection

Which brings us to the heroes. "Overwatch" has not only learnt a lot from "Team Fortress 2", but also from MOBAS ("DOTA 2", "Heroes of the Storm", "League of Legends"). The grid currently consists of 21 heroes, which are divided into four classes (defence, offence, tanks and supporters). From the ice-shooting Mei to the teleporting Tracer and the robot Bastion, which can transform into a tank, the heroes not only look completely different, they also play completely differently. They can heal, build turrets, strengthen allies or simply cause chaos with big guns. If one character gets boring, you simply jump to the next one.

3. everyone has a nemesis

Although there is certainly room for improvement in terms of balancing, Blizzard has taken great care to ensure that every hero has a weak point that can be exploited by other heroes. For example, the combat robot Bastion is currently very popular. However, it has little to offer against targeted attacks from sniper classes. This is the case with all 21 classes.

4. team spirit takes centre stage

The most striking feature of "Overwatch" is that there is no leaderboard. At no time can you see which player has how many kills or how often you have died. Instead, the best player is chosen at the end of the match. This may be because you have healed particularly well, provided support or sent opponents to the afterlife. There is also another list of players who have excelled in particular.

5. rich in variety

The large number of different heroes and the resulting colourful group constellations make the games extremely varied. There are also extremely interesting combinations of heroes. I'm already looking forward to watching videos of a team of six Mei-Lings putting their opponents in ice prisons.

6. everyone is on the same level

In the style of "Team Fortress 2" or "Counter-Strike", there are no upgrades or weapons to unlock in "Overwatch". All the rewards you receive when you level up are purely cosmetic, such as emotes, skins or logos to spray. This means that beginners and veterans always have the same requirements.

7. an eye-catcher

Blizzard titles never stand out because of their millions of pixels and the latest graphic effects. It's the style that gives the games their unmistakable look. This is also the case with "Overwatch". Comic style is no longer a novelty, but the 21 heroes and 12 levels still look unique. What's more, the performance demands on PC and consoles are relatively moderate as a result.

Question mark

Where I still have doubts is about the long-term motivation. I'm a victim of the creeping "roleplayisation" of games. I like it when I can unlock weapons, upgrades and equipment. The emotes and skins of "Overwatch" only motivate me to continue playing to a limited extent. Games like "Left 4 Dead" or "Counter-Strike" have never been able to grab me for as long as a "Battlefield". I still play them years later, but much less regularly. It's all a matter of taste, of course, but you should be aware of it before you buy.

In addition, there are currently only three game modes plus the announced competitive mode, which is due to follow at the end of June. This hasn't bothered me so far, but I'm hoping for a lot more in the future. The same applies to the heroes. But if Blizzard follows the same pattern as with its other titles, you can expect regular updates.

Conclusion

Even die-hard Blizzard fans were sceptical as to whether the company, spoilt for success, could create a successful multiplayer shooter. A genre that doesn't have to complain about a lack of choice. The enduring popularity could have been the reason why Blizzard finally wanted to take the plunge with a title of its own - even though it was like the old carnival. Despite all the scepticism, the studio has once again succeeded in creating a smash hit. "Overwatch" mixes the existing shooter formula with 21 heroes bursting with charm and a new, team-orientated style of play. The result is a colourful shooter that is extremely beginner-friendly and difficult to master at the same time.

I tested the PC version of "Overwatch", which Blizzard made available to me.

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