Overwatch 2 Beta Initial Impressions
Steam Description:
Overwatch 2 is a critically acclaimed, team-based shooter game set in an optimistic future with an evolving roster of heroes. Team up with friends and jump in today.
Episode Summary:
The Impact and Decline of the Overwatch Community
The Overwatch community, once known for its kindness and support, has experienced a decline in behavior with players becoming more toxic and engaging in negative behavior.
Overwatch 2: Changes in Community and Gameplay
The Overwatch community has become less kind over time, possibly due to higher expectations and frustrations with team-based gameplay. Despite some flaws, Overwatch has a nearly flawless technical and gameplay experience. Blizzard has been responsive to addressing issues and has made changes based on player feedback. Overwatch 2 has switched from 6v6 to 5v5 gameplay, resulting in faster queue times and a change in combat flow. The reduction in shields and the addition of only one tank has both pros and cons, such as less shield shooting and more vulnerability for healers. The introduction of the Push game mode and the phasing out of Assault maps have received mixed reactions.
The changes in Overwatch 2 include the introduction of the Push mode, the removal of crowd control abilities, and the addition of a scoreboard to show team stats. The Push mode offers a more chaotic and back-and-forth gameplay experience compared to the previous Assault mode. The removal of crowd control abilities aims to prevent players from being stun-locked and allows for a faster-paced gameplay. The scoreboard provides players with information about their performance and team dynamics, allowing for better understanding of the match. Some concerns about the scoreboard include the possibility of players focusing too much on individual stats and neglecting team strategy.
Major Character Changes and Balancing in Overwatch 2
The summary of this section is that there have been significant changes to some characters in Overwatch 2, while others remain largely the same. Characters like Mei and Junkrat have become almost unplayable due to the changes, while tanks like Orisa have undergone complete overhauls and are considered overpowered. Other characters like Soldier: 76 and Reaper have seen minor changes, but overall, the impact on gameplay and match outcomes is not significant.
Is Overwatch 2 a True Sequel or Just an Expansion?
The hosts discuss their thoughts on whether Overwatch 2 is a true sequel or simply an expansion of the original game. They mention that while there are some changes and improvements in Overwatch 2, it still feels very similar to the first game. They discuss the graphics, sound design, and gameplay changes, as well as the impact on the player base. Overall, they feel that Overwatch 2 is more like a 1.5 version rather than a full sequel. They mention the potential for the PvE aspect of the game to be a game-changer, but currently, they are not confident in its prospects. They give Overwatch 2 a grade of a "C" in terms of its current state and their confidence in its future success.
Overwatch 2 Beta Impressions
The reviewer discusses their thoughts on the PvP aspect of the Overwatch 2 beta, mentioning that they prefer the PvP portion of the game and have no interest in the PvE component. They highlight some criticisms from other players, such as the dominance of dive compositions and the impact of reduced crowd control abilities. The reviewer also mentions concerns about the lack of changes for certain characters and the overall similarity to Overwatch 1. They conclude by discussing the decision to place Overwatch 2 on the leaderboard and express their preference for waiting until the game officially releases.
The Frustrations of Overwatch 2
The hosts discuss their differing opinions on Overwatch 2, with one preferring the original game due to frustrations with the sequel's gameplay, particularly as a healer. They note issues like spawn camping and the speed of DPS characters, making it difficult to strategically retreat. Despite these frustrations, they still express interest in playing Overwatch 2 and invite listeners to join them on Discord. They also mention a forthcoming deep dive on Elite Dangerous and announce that the game will not be postponed again.
Key Points Covered
1. The Impact and Decline of the Overwatch Community
2. Overwatch 2: Changes in Community and Gameplay
3. Major Character Changes and Balancing in Overwatch 2
4. Is Overwatch 2 a True Sequel or Just an Expansion?
5. Overwatch 2 Beta Impressions
6. The Frustrations of Overwatch 2
Make Love, Marry, or Murder Ratings:
There was not Make Love, Marry, or Murder segment in this show as the hosts were only giving their initial impressions and were not yet ready to give the game an official rating.