Ah…Overwatch. One of Blizzard’s last original licenses that took off in 2016 with a very good following during the first years, before gradually running out of steam. For a few days, some can try a beta version of Overwatch 2 on their PC. Let’s see what happens following a few warm-ups.
Over-what?
For those who sleep at the back of the class near the radiator, let’s go back to the basics of Overwatch. Twelve players compete in two teams of six. Each of them embodies a hero from a selection that has greatly expanded over time, enough to make you dizzy. These are divided according to the usual triptych: tank, damage, healing. The members of each team will thus have to fulfill their role and work together to achieve their objectives: capture of a point, escort of cargo, defense of an area… Each character has an arsenal of techniques and it is difficult not to find at least one to your liking, each one having its particularities.
The game had already been greatly enriched since my first games, with the implementation of cross-play, and the obligation to choose the class before the game. This keeps the game balanced, even if it is still possible to change heroes each time you reappear. But then, what changes apart from the “2” via this beta?
A disrupted dynamic
If it was possible to contain his enemies with the help of two tanks in Overwatch, it is quite different via this beta. Indeed, the different teams have gone on a diet and have five members, including a single tank. So we go to CorrectWatch. While this change may seem minor, I have the feeling that it disrupts the games a lot more, and the role of the single tank is even more predominant. It will thus be necessary for the teams to support him, and for him to no longer set off alone on an adventure or risk collapsing very quickly. A good coordinated attack can make the defense more difficult, but the defense can also respond faster. Using the environment can also bring a huge plus to players.
The beta also allowed us to discover a new hero: Sojurn. This is played as a ranged fighter, and offers a laser rifle, which charges secondary power by hitting an opponent. After that, the slightest pressure sends a burst of energy. This new character is rather well balanced, as often with this license.
Many changes have been made to the different heroes, but these are not always good, especially the healers. Blizzard has also decided to give passive bonuses depending on the character class: a tank will be less jostled, a dps will move faster, while the life of a healer goes back over time.
Conclusion
However, I remain a little disappointed with the content of this beta. Indeed, the PVE mode has not shown the end of its nose, even if a few days have managed to exploit a flaw to discover one of the associated cards. We were only able to see the new hero and test the new dynamics with a single tank on the battlefield. What can give the impression of seeing only one Overwatch 1.5. It remains to be seen whether this will be enough for players to pass the course. For me, it will be a big yes, rediscovering the saga following several years without playing it.
