Amongst a sea of hero shooter games, Overwatch stands out for its ability to bounce back from the grasping hands of oblivion. After shifting to Overwatch 2 (not a sequel) the developers have returned to the original.
Overwatch was initially released as a pay-to-play, 6v6 hero shooter. The roster on release included 21 heroes divided into four categories: tanks, offense, defense, and support heroes. However, the offense and defense roles were later merged into damage.
The game has since evolved into a free-to-play, 5v5 hero shooter with a roster size of 51. However, the change from paid access to a free model sparked outrage within the community. With the removal of lootboxes, a raffle-based system that awarded players for participating in in-game events, players feel as if they didn’t have anything to work towards.
The game’s sequel, Overwatch 2, received a mediocre critical reception at best. Within 15 hours of its release, it had achieved a 14 percent positive review rate according to Video Games Chronicle. Partly due to the non-appearance of a promised player versus environment game mode that arrived 2 years late, with missing content. This launch left lots to be desired.
However, the launch of its newest reiteration, Overwatch, has sparked a flame hidden inside the community. The game reached an all-time player peak with over 165 thousand concurrent players on the release of the new season: Reign of Talon.
Along with the season came five new heroes: Anran, a damage hero; Domina, a tank hero; Emre, a damage hero; Jetpack Cat, a support hero; and Mizuki, a support hero. In a survey, Olive Mellor, sophomore, stated, “I love the game! It’s hard to get bored of since switching heroes makes the gameplay different.” The different gameplay styles of each character have enriched the diversity of the game.
Not to mention the re-addition of loot boxes, which adds another layer to gameplay. Julia Poole, sophomore, says, “I’m glad they got added back; it’s a better system than getting nothing.” Game events award players with loot boxes that give them chances to obtain skins for their favorite players.
Overwatch has continued to evolve and grow to suit its players’ tastes. With this recent success, the developer team proves it can listen to player feedback, and the game will flourish as a result.
