Blizzard’s Overwatch Feels Like A Superhero Shooter

Blizzard aren’t the sort to slap their name on any old tat. For more than twenty years the company has hammered out a pedigree stable of games, most of which are pioneering works within their respective genres. Where World of Warcraft brought MMOs into the mainstream, StarCraft II continues to dominate the strategy esports scene.

More recently, they’ve managed to break the MOBA deadlock with Heroes of the Storm while sparking a CCG revolution thanks to their success with Hearthstone. In other words Blizzard has the Midas touch and now they’re looking to give the FPS genre a good fondling.

Billed to launch next Summer on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, Overwatch is already turning heads as it approaches open beta. Originally thought to be Blizzard’s answer to the emerging trend of free-to-play online shooters, they have since dispelled that notion, touting Overwatch as full-fat, full-price retail release.

It’s not a description I’ve seen floating around yet one that feels justifiably astute: Overwatch is a superhero shooter. Set in a futuristic depiction of Earth, the game picks up thirty years after an event known as the Omnic Crisis. With artificial intelligence running rampant around the globe, an international team of specialists was formed to quell the threat and save humanity from its robotic oppressors.

That was a long time ago, however. Now, following the death of their leader, the once revered heroes of Overwatch have become ronin – mercenaries caught in the crossfire of several emerging factions.

It’s kind of hard to get a firm grip on the game’s lore at this point in time. Although Blizzard has done a grand job in world-building, it has intentionally left gaps to fill as we come closer to Overwatch’s release next year. The developer is said to be working on animations such as the one above to help flesh out its narrative as well as the origin stories of its numerous characters.

It’s these heroes that form the backbone of Overwatch, each one tagged with a unique set of skills. From hardened gunslingers and technical geniuses to hulking brutes and masters of stealth, there’s already a lot of variety on show. In many ways – as touched on before – these dynamic characters are almost like superheroes who possess a game-changing raft of powers.

The crux here is that you’ll need to become fully acquainted with each of these personalities to determine which ones match your style of play. That said, they each fall into one of four categories including offence, defence, tank, and support. This same use of archetypes in a competitive multiplayer space reflects the game’s MOBA roots but that is where the similarities end.

Overwatch is a tactical shooter through and through, comparable to Valve’s hugely successful Team Fortress 2. By combining the abilities of several Overwatch heroes, both teams will devise strategies on the fly while employing general first person shooter skills. In other words, having an intricate knowledge of each character is not enough to cement victory in each round, just as being a natural sharpshooter isn’t when it comes to games like CoD and Battlefield. To get the upper hand, and generally have more fun, you’ll need to marry the two sides together.

Naturally, the game feels different depending on which hero is currently in use. Where some lumber around the map slowly, others can sprint, teleport, and even fly, making for some truly dynamic combat encounters. Gunplay is equally as diverse, the feel of each weapon dictated by its various strategic or damage capabilities. Where Widowmaker’s iconic sniper rifle can be charged for long range devastation, Mei’s blaster can freeze enemies to reduce their movement.

Binding these heroes together is a consistent cartoon art style, similar to what you’d expect from film studios like Pixar and Dreamworks. Although some will balk at Overwatch’s upbeat tone, for many its visual style will strike a chord, especially when coupled with some great character voice overs.

Although not fully indicative of the final product, the early testing phases have done a great job in presenting the game’s core. As with any multiplayer-focused title there is always room for tweaks and balancing but, for now, Overwatch stands on a solid foundation. From here, Blizzard will need to consider the game’s more advanced features, such as a progression system and character customisation. If it can align all of these elements perfectly then Overwatch is a definite contender for the FPS crown in 2016.