Overwatch

[Winnow]

Why no discussion about this game?

After 400+ hours of SMITE, I've moved over to Overwatch and have about 120 hours logged so far. I'm a Blizzard hater for the most part but, as with consoles, PC Tech, etc, I have to acknowledge an exceptional product when I see one.

This is one of the best balanced 6v6 PvP games I've ever seen, especially considering the 23 quite varied hero types available. Zero pay to win. The only thing you get as a reward (either free each level or pay for more) are loot boxes with cosmetic skins, emotes, victory poses, voice lines, etc. No expansion costs, etc. The entire game is yours when you buy it including future Heroes and maps.

This game is super popular. A few recent things from past week:

-Elon Musk recommended Overwatch when asked what PC games he plays



-Overwatch was the 11th most searched for term on Porn Hub for 2016 (placing right above anal!) and the game was only out six months of last year. That's a surefire way to know something is popular.

Besides the all important Porn validation, the game has a surprisingly mostly friendly community. Sure, there are assholes but you can mostly enjoy matches in peace and have fun. The games are fast and intense.

I'm getting old and was never really that great at PvP FPS games anyway, but I hold my own in Overwatch. There's a place for DPS, Tanks, and support type players. You can switch Heroes at anytime by going back to base or after you die. The best teams counter threats by switching heroes when needed. One crap player won't necessarily sink your team but a well balanced team can crush. Team play is rewarding and needed as opposed to maverick types.

As with Smite, short ~15 min games make it easy to pick us. Also very easy key setup, mouse/keyboard or controller (mouse/keyboard better of course) There's only three abilities besides your main attack so no need for complex keyboard configs. The skills and ultimate each hero has are very different and not overwhelming while at the same time there can be high skill ceilings.

Cartoony look does not distract. The levels are extremely well designed and look great.

Most important is it's a blast to play and many of the matches are intense and close. I scream at my screen a lot whether I'm killing or being killed.

My current primary heroes are Soldier 76 (DPS) and Lucio (Healer). The incredibly annoying Mei with her freeze gun and ice walls is fun to play as well.



Anyway, it's the most popular game over the past six months so plenty to find on the internet about it, but if for some reason you haven't tried it, it's a good one.

[Funkmasterr]

I played it for a couple of weeks and got bored and haven't been back. For me a real progression system (weapons, skills, etc) is a vital part of keeping me interested. I know a big part of the reason they did it that way is to throw a wider net, but quite frankly that's one of the trends in gaming that I'm tiring of the most; if I put the time in to get powerful and experienced at a game, I want to mop the fucking floor with casuals - I don't give a shit about their enjoyment.

Visual style isn't usually a primary factor for me (hell, I'm playing Stardew Valley right now) - but for whatever reason for a competitive FPS, cartoony graphics just don't do it for me.

It's definitely well balanced, and I'm certainly not saying it's a bad game, I just didn't care for it. If I'm going to play a FPS game (which has been rare lately), I'll play Battlefield 1.

[Aslanna]

Why no discussion about this game?

If I had to guess I'd say because not many posters around these days.

No interest from me personally in an onlne shooter. I'm sure it's a fine game.

[Winnow]

For me a real progression system (weapons, skills, etc) is a vital part of keeping me interested.

Yeah if leveling/increasing power/skills is what you like then Overwatch isn't for you. It's 100% skill on equal footing. Although I don't think you'd "mop the floor" with casuals if you entered the competitive matches instead of quick play..

I'm tired of games where you either pay to win or if you don't put in a bazillion hours to keep up with the jones, the ultra armored players with death ray weapons mop the floor with you. Not fun. SMITE/Overwatch, and League of Legends type games are for people that want to play without advantages beyond their own skill.

I can absolutely destroy people in War Thunder because I have a rare plane with awesome speed, turning, ammo, firepower, etc. It is fun to shoot down a bunch of planes but it's also not exactly fair just because I played long enough to get the best of the best equipment.

Not saying games like Battlefield are bad, but those are best single player or PvE (EverQuest) type experiences where you can make yourself into a god with leveling, etc and kill all you want against NPCs.

Feels good to take out a higher level team (levels only give you cosmetics) knowing that you outplayed someone or some team that's played longer but doesn't have god mode with ultra lock scope and triple the hits points to insta gib you.

As for cartoony graphics, it's not my first choice but Overwatch's characters and environment are well done and remain great looking while also preventing more disadvantage to the non power PC player. The ragdoll physics etc are all well done. Pretty extensive lore for the characters as well.

The game is extremely satisfying when a group comes together, combining ults etc or blocking them. The warning phrases for an ultimates for each hero are great. If you hear "It's High Noon" or "I've got you in my Sights" and you better GTF outta dodge, or someone drop a shield ultimate of some sort, or kill that DPS machine fast before he wipes the group.

A game is really good IMO if I don't require motivation from leveling skills etc to keep playing it. It's nice to sometimes get the play of the game, or be recognized by both your team and sometimes the enemy with votes after the game. The votes have zero meaning except for respect for your play for that particular match.

[Winnow]

'Overwatch' boasts over 25 million players

From 15 million to 25 million players in three months. I think the game has been out about 9 months total.

I still play this almost every day for an hour or two. Last night was first time we had six team members on voice chat at the same time. So helpful when coordinating Ultimates or letting team members know where a sniper is etc.

Simple to understand abilities for each Hero yet high skill ceiling game. Extremely satisfying victories and some devastating defeats.

[Winnow]

For those interested in the future of eSports, check out the Overwatch World Finals:


https://youtu.be/IyCjDz5z8uw?t=1h5m31s


This is 2.5 hours long and it only the USA vs Korea part but the above is linked to a short 5-6 min game.

I bookmarked above one of the game maps that was hotly contested.

Korea won the overall match but USA put up a good fight. Jake (from team USA) is awesome on Soldier 76. I think he plays Junkrat initially in this match but switched to Soldier 76 later on. "Flower" from Korea on Widowmaker (Sniper) is deadly

Sometimes the game can be hard to follow as a spectator but this game rocks when you play it. I'm around level 350 now in Overwatch. Levels only matter for earning skins and other cosmetic items. A level 1 is on equal footing with a level 500 in OW. It's all about skill.

The lore behind this game is incredible. Blizzard puts out Pixar/Disney quality short animations about their characters.

While my best heros are Soldier 76 (DPS) and Lucio (Healer), I've become pretty comfortable playing most of the ~25 heroes. There's a game mode called "Mystery Heroes" whe you spawn as a random hero and also randomly change heroes each time you die. It's a great mode to get familiar with the various heroes.

Watch at least the first map assault contest linked above. It's in the middle of the match. Only like 5-6 mins. Also check out the crowd and arena build for this Series. eSports is here to stay. Need a seniors league! If you really don't want to watch the match, here's linked after that short game: https://youtu.be/IyCjDz5z8uw?t=1h9m10s . Watch the game linked above though because the one after this is all Flower sniping people with ridiculous accuracy. I can't hit shit with Widowmaker and this guy had 80% headshots.

The game is great. No grieving and no cheating. When any sign of cheating/hacking arises, Blizzard puts down a major banhammer.

Here's example of an animated Short (Soldier 76)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPRRupAM4DI

It's great because they use one of the exact maps you play on, making in very familiar to players.