OVERWATCH 2

A sequel with a Tracer of controversy

Format PS4 ETA TBC Pub Blizzard Dev Blizzard

Has Blizzard revealed a sequel or an expensive expansion? That’s the question. If you’re a current Overwatch player then you may see this as overpriced DLC, but if you’ve never met Tracer, D.Va, Widowmaker, and the gang before then Overwatch 2 is the sequel aimed at getting you hooked into Blizzard’s blend of team-based shooting.

Regardless of your take, there’s definitely content here that fans new and old will love. All-new to the game are Hero and Story Missions. These PvE modes offer a unique spin on Overwatch’s fast-paced gunplay.

The draw of co-op Hero Missions is the opportunity to grind through various locations in the Overwatch universe, fighting for randomised goals against established characters, and levelling up your favourite hero in a way similar to how you would in one of Blizzard’s other RPG franchises, such as Diablo (flip over to p52 for the latest on that).

“YOU’RE LEVELLING YOUR CHARACTER UP; THEY GET MORE POWERFUL.”

“Just like when you play World Of Warcraft or Diablo, you’re levelling your character up; they get more powerful, they can survive more, they can do more damage,” said game director Jeff Kaplan in an Overwatch What’s Next panel last month.

Each level you attain rewards you with a Talent, such as Speed Kills (which speeds up your cooldowns with every kill). But Talents are restricted to Hero Missions, so you can’t take your version of Tracer, for

example, into the game’s classic PvP.

The developer is still considering whether to introduce the levelling system to Story Missions. Playing like Destiny’s Raids, these four-player co-op missions feature specific goals and character selection is limited. Cinematics bookend the missions and tell a story within Blizzard’s world. If you’re new to Overwatch this will be the mode to entice you into the series’ engaging lore.

These modes are great additions, but where Overwatch 2 gets muddy is in its service to existing fans. Some aspects of this sequel will be available to everyone. If you’re currently answering the call in Overwatch you will see the new visual upgrade, which includes refined character models, improved animation, and a new streamlined HUD. You’ll also be able to play all the new heroes and maps being added into the sequel – including Sojourn, who has a rifle for an arm. What you won’t get if you stick with it are the Hero and Story Missions.

Controversial? A little, but 2020 will see the first major refresh and additions to Overwatch since launch, and that alone makes it one of next

year’s ones to watch.

Fighting your way through a command ship means tackling a lot of Omnics.

At Blizzcon, players got to go hands-on with a mission set in Rio De Janeiro. Tracer looks much as she did in the first game, though her goggles are more streamlined.