First Impressions: Overwatch 2

Overwatch was my favourite game for over 2 years, and a rarity in my gaming library as a competitive game that I could actually hold my own in (at least in the plebeian Unranked bracket). I finally stopped playing in May 2018 (with my account at level 1201 and over 1200 hours played) because the variability of real-time match lengths didn't work well with Maia's nap schedules, and I couldn't carve out enough time to practice enough and maintain my desired skill level.

It's from this nostalgic background that I decided I had to try Overwatch 2 at least once, in spite of the downward spiral that Blizzard's reputation has been in for many years, the departure of the well-liked game director, and the long delays and changes made to the vision of the new game.

Overwatch 2 has a weird identity. They shut down Overwatch to make way for the new game, and the key pieces that were supposed to be in it (lore-heavy PvE campaigns) are indefinitely delayed. So really, it just feels like a big content update for Overwatch with slightly fewer features, slightly fewer maps, and tons of cosmetic items locked behind a "Battle Pass" system where you pay periodically through the year to unlock extra rewards. It seems like no one is happy with the Battle Pass system and most of the extra rewards don't really seem worth paying real cash for.

That said, the GAMEPLAY in Overwatch 2 is very fresh -- featuring smaller 5-player teams with 1 fewer tank, rebalanced heroes and skills, and a new game mode. Games feel faster and less grindy now (will fewer tank shields to fight through) and it seems like it's a little easier to sway the course of a match as a solo player.

The new heroes (both those just introduced and those that came out while I was on hiatus) all feel pretty fun although I've gone back to my classic mains while I relearn the game. A lot of my precision skills (like Roadhog hooks) came back pretty quickly. A few of the tanks seem a little TOO tanky, but that's probably just because I'm unaware of their weaknesses.

Overall, I'm happy with how matches feel and looking forward to seeing how this game evolves. It may not take over my entire gaming life as it did back in 2016, but it's fun enough for a match here and there!