Blizzard Entertainment knows how to make an addicting game. World of Warcraft, Diablo, Starcraft, Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm. Gamers around the world have sunk countless hours (and dollars) into these well crafted experiences that span a variety of genres. There is the MMO quest for the best gear, a slashing lootfest, furious real time strategy, slot machine card play and intense battle arena combat. Now out of the ashes of the cancelled MMO Titan comes Overwatch, a new FPS, and one that aims to change how we think about the genre by focusing on accessibility and teamwork. Rather than the sometimes demoralizing nature of kill, kill, kill so common in online shooters, the game will not feature a traditional deathmatch mode and the focus will be on keeping the structure simple. Infused with color and a vibrant cast that would be comfortable in a Pixar movie, the atmosphere of the game reinforces these anti-cynical goals. The game has just finished a closed beta and is due to release sometime in the first 2 quarters of 2016 for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

Overwatch Concepts

From Blizzard’s Overwatch 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 21 heroes who all fit into 1 of 4 different roles (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 give Widowmaker or McCree a try. Newer to the format and want to try something that protects your friends? Try the lovable Bastion or the altruistic Mercy. Would you rather just play a portly Mad Max inspired scrapper with a chain hook? Meet Roadhog.

Overwatch Gameplay

As of right now, there are 2 known Game Modes, Payload and Point 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 of abilities that are determined by the roles that they play. Some abilities are weapon based, and some are standard actions that require a cooldown, such as Reaper’s Wraith Form which allows him to pass through enemies unharmed. Each hero also features an Ultimate Ability which 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.

Progression and player rank have 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.

Putting the Finishing Touches

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 minted Overwatch Wiki. Want to see it in action? Check out the gameplay trailer below:

Visit the Overwatch Wiki to explore the Heroes and their diverse Abilities

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