Opinion: Overwatch 2 Is a Pale Imitator of What Made the Franchise Great

Overwatch 2 released on October 4, 2022 with an extremely rough launch. Its servers could not manage the onslaught of players jumping on the game as soon as it launched, what with long queue times and server errors that kicked out players that continue to perpetuate even now. Not to mention another DDoS attack and an outcry on its SMS Protection Functionality that was so loud the developers really did listen and removed it since it unfairly punished players and blocked them from accessing the game.

It goes without saying that Overwatch 2 has its fair share of issues, both unintentionally and intentionally. Here’s our take on how exactly Overwatch 2 is inferior to its predecessor, to the point that Overwatch 2 is a pale imitator of what made the franchise great.

Overwatch 2 Removes Content from Original game

Overwatch 2 is Overwatch, “But with a 2 this time.” This is blatantly stated on the official Overwatch Twitter account. Overwatch, a game in which some of its players had spent $60 upon its initial release back in 2016 has now been masked completely over by Overwatch 2. The original Overwatch is no longer available to play, and what we got in comparison is a product that has taken numerous steps backward in consumer-friendly practices.

For starters, you can make up a list of content missing from the original game. This includes maps – specifically, of Assault/2 CP (Capture Point) maps that have been completely thrown out with only some being possibly discoverable hidden within its arcade modes. These were shunted in place of the Push mode. Players are also stuck with inferior map modes since all pre-existing maps have been given unwanted revamps, depicting different times of the day (usually being night mode now).

Its cards and medals system have also been scrapped. Players are instead “treated” to the Play of the Game and a “level up” meter if they have the Battle Pass once a battle has been concluded. Furthermore, players can now only endorse their own team and looking for a group feature is also nowhere to be seen. Alongside 6 new maps and 3 new characters, Overwatch 2 could not feel any more like a poor update that actually removes content.

It sounds nothing like a sequel considering everything it actually includes. But how it takes away from the original experience is the biggest shame here. The issues here are rampant in how unnecessary it all is. What were once simply quality-of-life features and additions to the original game that breathed life into a product that was fast approaching its expiry date has been completely sapped of the amount of dedicated work and effort it once had? But that’s not the only problem.

Overwatch 2 vs Overwatch – Removal of Visual Indicators

The removal of such unique aspects to the game makes Overwatch 2 feel that much more of a run-of-the-mill shooter game. Players no longer feel rewarded for the number of hours they dedicate to the game, but no amount of matches even indicate how well they are performing individually. In an attempt to prevent toxicity, even more, unnecessary tweaks and removals were made like this example.

The ‘on fire’ lines can still be heard if players are performing exceptionally well, such as going on kill streaks and performing a battle-winning Ultimate move. But the developers still have yet to correct the lines, since the visual indicator is no more. What was once displayed at the bottom left side of the screen alongside the character portrait and health bar would also contain players’ rank and border.

It goes without saying that player progression is no longer a focus for the developers. What was once shown as a border to showcase everyone’s individual journey in the game and to showcase just how long they have been dedicated to it, loudly and proudly, is now hidden in your profile statistics page.

Some aspects of the game have been overhauled for the sake of giving Overwatch 2 a “fresh lick of paint”. That is to supposedly reinforce calling the game a sequel. For example, the art style of the 2D portraits have been completely altered, character sprites that are on the endorsement board at the bottom now look like they were created on Microsoft Paint, and the new animations on the character select screen are mostly downgraded versions of the original – Reinhardt and Zarya are the absolute worst offenders for not even incorporating their own weapons in the shot.

The transition of Overwatch to Overwatch 2 even failed to deliver its primary game mode addition that would have been enough of a reason to grant this as a sequel. But no, the PVE mode has been delayed to next year. Overwatch 2 was forced out of the gate far too early. It is as shallow and underbaked as it is for this reason alone, and it looks shoddy and unlike anything a Triple-A game has ever produced.

Even its gun charms are not implemented properly onto characters who do not use a gun. Instead, they are painfully stapled onto their hands so that the player can see the silly accessory dangling from Zenyatta’s hand. Speaking of the gun charms…

Player Unfriendly Store Prices

Of all the free games out there that use monetization and microtransactions, Overwatch 2 is the most anti-consumer of them all in my opinion. Legendary skins are now priced at $20. You can buy three legendary skins for the same price as the original release of Overwatch, or for most other Triple-A video games!

This paywall has even been implemented on previously available cosmetics from Overwatch. Veteran players have had their in-game currency from the first game transferred into legacy credits, but that will be all that they have for the rest of the game since there is no in-game currency rewarded. Instead, credits can be accumulated via its lifetime, monthly and weekly challenges, with the most being rewarded in the quickest way coming from the 60 credits max per week.

Shameful Battle Pass

These cosmetics are now locked behind monetisation or grinding. This can take 11 weekly challenges or 260 weeks without fail to unlock just one cosmetic. You can instead cough up your own money for “discounted bundles” that are never actually sold at their supposed full price. It’s the definition of false advertising.

Even if you purchased the Battle Pass, it contains mostly throw-away items of voice lines and stickers for characters its players will not be interested in or care about playing as. It does not even provide in-game currency. At least with the loot boxes from the first game they could grant in-game currency to spend on the cosmetics the player had their eye on. They had the chance to spend it!

Overwatch 2 is now run-on and incentivizes FOMO, the fear of missing out on cosmetics that are now overpriced or require beyond dedicating gametime to unlock. For example, for anyone and everyone not spending a dime on the game, it took a player 49 hours to unlock Kiriko without the Battle Pass. That’s at Tier 55.

Our final point is that for a game that has always been about counter-playing and switching out heroes ever since its conception is now gatekeeping characters. Battle Passes are now required to unlock the full roster, but only if you have the time to do so. You are handing over money to still work for unlocking the content you paid for. Furthermore, characters will become cycled in being locked per season, therefor giving an advantage to players who have the Battle Pass over those playing it for free. Imagine having to go up against a Pharah and the only hit scan you can hit well with is locked.

Overwatch 2 Needs to Bring Back What Made the Franchise Special

Overwatch 2 has been a nightmare to experience. It should have never released in the state it was in. Not just because of the server issues, but everything that the game forces upon its players, with very little changing even now after more than a month of its release has come and gone. Even in its most recent patch notes, the nerfs coming to certain characters are not correcting the overpowered state of its most out of hand units. That of Sojourn and Orisa have gone untouched.

Blizzard had once made a unique and beloved shooter game that even those unfamiliar or indifferent to FPS titles adore. Its splendid characterization through sparring, each with its own voice lines and gun handling quirks give each character their own individuality. Said characters are diverse and offer so many different ways to play the game that is filled with heavy lore details and soaring music scores for each screen and map mode. Overwatch was a one-of-a-kind experience, and no thanks to Activision, it has been completely sapped of why the majority of us held it with such prestige.

Overwatch 2 needs to change for the better. It’s not too late.