As of writing, it has been almost two months since the release of Overwatch 2. Ever since this “sequel” was announced, I wanted to do a review for the game. I wanted to see what they have improved and what we can expect from the successor of the 2016 Game of the Year. Let’s see if it still has that fire inside.
Whatchu Talking About
Overwatch 2, like Overwatch 1, is a team-objective first-person shooter developed by Blizzard Entertainment that uses a roster of different heroes. Although the 2 is in the name, it doesn’t act like a sequel; it’s more of an update. Same characters same gameplay, just with more things put on top of it. Loot boxes have been removed so the game can be more available to other players (and get approved by the European Union). Along with a core game mode has been removed to meet player critiques. I can go further about the game itself, but you can copy and paste what I said in my Overwatch article, and it will have almost no changes.
What’s Good
First positive. 3 words: Free. To. Play. One of the most significant differences from the last game is that OW2 is free-to-play. No need to spend $50-$70 on this game. All there is to get the game is to download it for your respective platform and play. Usually, going free-to-play would mark the beginning of the end of a game. However, it just lowered the barrier of entry and welcomed new players.
Overwatch 2 took a small step in gaming for everybody by adding cross-progression. To simplify, cross-progression makes game data and collectibles available between different platforms. This added feature is welcoming for someone who changed to PS5 and PC. All the unlockable I had from my Xbox One were usable on my current gen (thank God it did).
The last positive I have is all the new content in the game. New maps, such as New York City, Rio de Janeiro, and Portugal, Esperança are welcomed editions to the game. New heroes like Sojourn, Junker Queen, and Kiriko have become popular during the last month. Even most reworked heroes like Orisa and Bastion feel fun to play and no longer feel like troll picks (mileage might vary for Doomfist).
So, What’s Bad
Long story short, the store makes me miss Loot Boxes. Since Overwatch 2 is free-to-play, two functions will be mandatory in the game; a microtransaction store and a battle pass. I will break down the battle pass in a second. For now, I need to explain the store. The store holds all of the game’s cosmetics, from skins to sprays, and requires real-world money to pay. Unfortunately, cosmetics cost way too much. Some skins can cost about 20 USD per skin. Between skin bundles and skins costing the same and a virtual charm in the game costing more than its real-life version, there needs to be some form of overhaul. Before, the charms and souvenirs weren’t even in the first game. The only reason for their existence is to pad out the Battle Pass.
For a short explanation, a Battle Pass is a monetization approach that provides additional content for a game, usually through a tiered system. Rewarding the player with in-game items for playing the game and completing specific challenges. The Battle Pass model gained more use as an alternative to subscription fees and loot boxes. Since this game has been worked on after three years, Blizzard would have seen what makes a successful Battle Pass and made a reasonable one for Overwatch 2. However, they made one of the worst Battle Passes to have. Compared to other Battle Passes, there are no in-game credits to use for the subsequent season, unsavory cosmetics just for padding purposes, and slow-level progression. But the worst part of the Battle Pass is putting their newest character, Kiriko, in the Battle Pass. Due to this added part, there’s a possibility that all new heroes will be behind future Battle Passes, which can make this a pay-to-play or pay-to-win game.
To anyone that doesn’t know what pay-to-play is in terms of gaming, it’s when a player’s access to an actual part of the game is restricted via a paywall. Pay-to-win is like pay-to-play but switching the word ‘actual’ to ‘vital.’ One of the best things about Overwatch 1 was that any new hero could be played by anyone from day one. In Overwatch 2, the player can only play a new hero at the earliest, by money, or at worst, by grinding. This, in turn, can eventually hurt the player base and make new players feel intimidated to play. Apex Legends is another game that is slowly starting to suffer this same issue; with new legends being added every season, the only option to unlock them is by grinding or paying.
Final Thots
So, here’s a rundown for anyone the skimmed over the article:
| PROS | CONS |
| Free-to-play can bring in new players | Overwatch Store is Overpriced |
| Cross-progression is welcoming | Battle Pass is Horrible |
| New Content brings New Life | Future Characters are Pay-To-Play |
Although this game has the same positives and negatives, the cons outweigh the pros. The game does try its best to revive interest in the franchise with brand-new content, but there are more misses than hits. Due to the sequel’s microtransactions affecting the game’s struggling short-term and hazy long-term success, I can’t thoroughly recommend the game. Especially with so many games coming out this holiday season. Is it worth a skip? I don’t believe it is. The game is more Overwatch, and if the player is looking for that, then this is the best (and only) option.
Release Date: October 4, 2022
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Switch
Price: Free-To-Play
Recommendation: Wait 3-6 Months
If you enjoyed this review article, look at my review for Overwatch 1 or check out November’s free games this month. Make sure to follow my Twitter @_UrgeGaming for any updates on the blog. I hope you have a blessed week. Peace.