Minnesänger wrote:

So, pretty much what everyone said was gonna happen but we were assured wasn’t gonna happen?

drumbeg wrote:

If it looks like a duck... Nice update Stormy. I'm up for diving in at some point even if it's Overwatch 1.5. One of the best multiplayer games ever innit.

 

Yeah it's kinda sad that everyone could see these problems coming a mile off except for the devs. More character reworks really might help, but that's not happening right now and it would still miss the main issue I have. Overwatch doesn't need to be Valorant, it needs to be Overwatch. Gimme some freedom back, let that magic flow.

On the flip side, with the reduced flexibility does come a faster game that is far more favourable to DPS carries due to the lack of tank and shield shutdowns and no one to peel for the now woefully under-powered supports (except for Moira, natch.) If you play Soldier 76, Genji, or any meta DPS - it's like shooting fish in a barrel. 

This is definitely gonna please a lot of not-me shaped people out there.

Still huge queue times in the beta, and the priority pass barely makes a difference. Thing is, the vast majority of players wanna play DPS, but would flex to the odd tank or support that suits them if needed. With role queue you don't get that choice in-game so everyone just queues DPS. 

I dunno. I'm really quite stunned with how little the game has changed in this beta, and the changes that have been implemented have mostly made the game feel worse for a long term flex/support player like me. It's gonna need a massive Orisa-style overhaul to loads of character's abilities for 5v5 to feel even remotely balanced, and unfortunately, I can't see that happening.

Basically, in its current form 5v5 can eat a dick.

Ah man, but when your team's in sync and everything's going well... What a feeling.

This fucking game.

Aye, lol.

I mean, I only moan about the game because it has a special place in my heart and I always want it to be the best it can be. I might take extended breaks here and there, but with well over 2000 hours devoted to Overwatch and some great memories and friends made, I'll be seeing this game through to the very end. 

And complain every step of the way.

It's strange that they absolutely nailed it with their first ever multi-player FPS, yet have clearly found it hard to move the original formula forwards. Maybe key team members were moved onto other stuff or left.

The new season of The Overwatch League starts at 8pm, with the Watchpoint pre-show starting in a couple of mins. They've decided to use the OW2 client so it'll be interesting to see how 5v5 plays at the highest level. 

I'm expecting it to be very fast and an out-and-out DPS showcase now the amount of shields has been nerfed. This could make 5v5 make sense. 

Overwatch 2 = Overwatch for simpletons.

The first of the OW2 PvP closed betas is done then, and my closing thoughts aren't all that positive. But first, the good:

Overwatch will be getting updates again! Shields and crowd control have been massively reduced to the disappointment of exactly no one. The new character, Sojourn, seems like a nice addition to the game, if a little over tuned. The new maps look and feel pretty good, with plenty of room for mixing up your attacks and defences, and the new game mode has potential (but it does need some looking at. More below).

Now the bad:

Unfortunately, the game just feels off. 5v5 will never have the depth or flexibility of OG OW's 6v6. A main and off-tank makes a huge difference to the game dynamic, with that extra body freely available to back up your main tank, peel for supports, flank, or dive a priority target depending on the situation, as well as freeing up the DPS to play as loose as they're able. The Orisa changes as well as the removal of DPS stuns have shown that Overwatch's shields and CC could have been reduced without losing a teammate, and with one less tank you're limited in your tactical choices and playstyle, with simple death-ball comps trading DPS-led wipe for wipe now being the majority of games. Also, the sole tank is so damn important now that having a bad tank player means you're probably gonna lose. No room for error in the sole tank role. This is snowballed by there being no changes to tanks like Wrecking Ball, who was specifically designed to operate more independently of the team in a 6v6 environment. It really is a bit of a mess.  

I mean, unless you're a hardcore DPS main happy wait 10 mins for a game or someone who barely played enough Overwatch to get an understanding of the complexities of the format. I've no doubt this streamlined and dumbed-down version of Overwatch will feel pretty good for those kinds of people. 

Looking towards the next beta then... I'm hoping supports get some love, and that the old characters really not suited to the new straight-line approach get some changes to make them feel less like transplants from the wrong game. A new playable character would be very cool (and make them a support please), and the new Push mode needs some reworking. In the present version of the mode, getting around 70% progress makes the game all but unwinnable for your opponents, leading to games with 2 or 3 minutes left to run where people just give up or leave. 

So yeah this does seem somewhat downbeat, but I must've clocked up 50 hours in the beta over the last few weeks so it's gotta be doing something right. Right?

So, I think Overwatch 2 is dropping tomorrow.

I think if you have Overwatch installed, it will be replaced during the launch window by Overwatch 2. It's basically Overwatch 1.5 innit?

It's always been monetised through cosmetics. Don't think there is any change there.

And I know I've been shitting all over OW2, but when you're teaming with friends and it all clicks there's still nothing else that feels like it.

The only entertainment I'm getting from this Overwatch 2 launch tonight is the memes on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/Apply/status/1577370577169358848

...eventually got a game. 3 matches played. All on old maps with mostly old characters. They have a nerve calling this a sequel.

I didn't get to play though. I managed to get in but due to their ongoing issues was locked out of the new characters and then got kicked. That happened three times after queuing for between 30 mins and an hour each time.

Will try again tonight. Fingers crossed the new Push mode got some tweaks, during the beta if one team got to around 75% progress it was all but impossible for the other team to make a comeback, leading to some bad feels and players quitting.

I do like the new characters for the most part though, both their designs and abilities. My only real issues being Junker Queen having the one silhouette in the game that isn't immediately identifiable during gameplay, and maybe having too much kit.

stormyskiesahead wrote:

Seagull's vid on this was pretty good:

Interesting and a bit grim. Thanks!