Game news Overwatch 2: What Players Don’t Like
Overwatch 2 is finally out, but unfortunately not unanimously. Blizzard’s FPS has brought some changes that players don’t like. Difficult to navigate in this new opus which struggles to satisfy everyone. Between the highly contested Battle Pass or the divisive 5v5, we will see together the main elements that players do not like.
Summary
- The death of lootboxes and the arrival of the battle pass
- The new 5v5 team setup and in-game feel
- Details that make gamers’ hair stand on end
The death of lootboxes and the arrival of the battle pass
Eh yes ! Say goodbye to lootboxes and player levels. In the first
Overwatch, it was possible to unlock a whole bunch of cosmetics like skins or tags just by leveling up. By completing games, players leveled up and as a reward, they got a lootbox. This mechanism made it possible to have some more or less rare virtual decorations without having to pay any real money. They might also buy multiple lootboxes at full price if they were impatient. All of this is a time well and truly over since the launch of Overwatch’s second name. The battle pass arrived, as did a feeling of emptiness that quickly settled in the hearts of players.. Player Tiers are now Battle Pass Tiers. There is a free path and a paid path which contains many more items. Players quickly realized that it took a lot of play to progress in the battle pass. The icing on the cake, Blizzard has announced that not all characters will be automatically accessible but following a certain level.. This is the case for Kiriko which must be unlocked from level 55 (except for players with Overwatch 1, they will only be able to play her in competitive mode before level 55). A funny idea that the players do not approve of at all. The progression of the levels is much too slow, even by chaining the parts. Is this the counterpart of the transition to free-to-play? Couldn’t Blizzard have done better even for free-to-play? In any case, this choice is highly contested and does not seem to reassure players regarding the future of the game.
The disappearance of level progression has also left a big void for some. It was possible to level up in just a few games and, over time, see your player portrait evolve. Beyond the aesthetic aspect brought, there was a real feeling of satisfaction. Now, progression is tied to battle passes and happens slowly. For many, levels and lootboxes were what made players want to play games. The greed of this new opus no longer has as much interest as the previous configuration.
The new 5v5 team setup and in-game feel
Going from a team of 6 players to 5 players was not trivial for Blizzard. They wanted to make games less “boring” by removing a tank. According to them, with 5 players, it is now easier for everyone to contribute effectively. Such a change is not without consequence… All the old characters had to be rebalanced so that they are viable in this new configuration.. Balancing is always a complex matter in a multiplayer title… That’s why it’s not uncommon in the current meta to see the same heroes played and replayed, or for a player to be forced to switch characters to play something unanimously more “viable”. For many, this goes once morest what Blizzard did with the first game. They had emphasized character exploration…. Maybe that was only valid when players were still discovering the game in 2016.
Tanks, or rather the team tank, now has a very tricky place. They get overwhelmed more easily, but are meant to be more aggressive, like damage heroes. Many players have expressed their dissatisfaction by saying that this removes the strategic aspect of this FPS in favor of a game where the skills of the heroes fly in all directions, without really asking for any organization. Some wonder if it is a role that still has value in this new opus. Also, being the only tank on a team adds pressure to the player. The off tank position of the previous opus offered significant support to the main tank. Some tanks can get insulted because they don’t take the most optimized character since the release of the game. Amazing decision coming from the North American company which aimed to reduce toxicity at all costs. Many players are hoping for a strategic improvement to encourage diversity in tank heroes and showcase them.
Details that make gamers’ hair stand on end
In the first game, when a player performed a really good execution streak, his portrait would be on fire and all the other players might see it. An element called “on fire”, which gave players’ games a boost by rewarding them for their impressive performances. It was not just an aspect to show off, but above all to assess one’s own level according to the criteria established in the game.. In Overwatch 2, the Burning Portrait was removed much to the chagrin of players. Well… not completely removed since your character always exclaims that he is on fire, without it being visible on the screen. Also in pvp performances, the scoreboard is no longer visible following a game. Impossible to know if, in the absence of not having had the action of the game, you performed in a quantified way. The first game offered a table full of medals that gave an idea of the level of players in certain categories. Now, endgames feel empty… like something is missing to wrap up your game over in blood and sweat. Added to this is a sound quality that some users have estimated to be down, especially with the noise made by certain weapons that seem less real. The game’s new menu was also criticized describing it as being less ergonomic than before.
The magic of Overwatch seems to be a long way off. Many players felt this second opus was an awkward move to free-to-play, as if the marketing and the whole lucrative aspect had gotten the better of the players. Without the PVE which hasn’t been released yet and gives this impression of having the game halfway… it’s as if
Overwatch 2 was only the first opus, but less well. This is the sinister observation of the fans of the license who testify to their disappointment en masse. Fortunately, Blizzard has announced that changes are expected to take place over time, which will make the player experience even more enjoyable. So there is hope for this famous FPS! Maybe with a little patience, fans will rediscover this second opus in a new light!
What do you think ? Do you hold out hope that the game will get better over time?
