Can the second Overwatch meet the massive success of the first game?

Back in 2016, Overwatch took the world by storm offering a hero based competitive shooter that has become one of Blizzard most popular IP’s of all time. The heroes were well developed, gameplay was incredibly fun, the maps were gorgeous in presentation; Overwatch was just all round great game that more than deserved the numerous Game of the Year accolades it received. After six years, Overwatch 2 is here with new characters, maps, game modes, but does it have enough to live up to the legacy of its predecessor?

Going into Overwatch 2, my biggest worry would be that the gameplay would feel the same. Considering how good the first Overwatch was, Overwatch 2 needs to stand out from the original because this isn’t an expansion but a new game. Honestly, I’m mixed on this one because Overwatch 2 does have some quality of life changes that do make that game feel better, but nothing that makes it break from the shadow of the original. The largest change is going to 5v5 which is a nice addition as it was meant to reduce queue times, and queues are a lot quicker now; even for ranked matches. Alongside the match sizes, the match types have also changed as modes like 2 point capture have been replaced with push mode where teams will work together to guide a robot to push a block to the other teams base. I prefer push as it helps keep games moving and consistently has it where either team can build a comeback keeping matches exciting and tense.

The most interesting change is the shift from loot boxes to battle passes. Now you gain xp towards unlocks in the Pass each match, allowing you to continually work towards getting new gear. This shift is a nice addition because much like Fortnite’s Battle Pass system, you know what you’re working towards and not risking getting randomly poor items because the luck of the loot box. Now the Battle Pass does cost $10, however you can still unlock items such as characters in the free Pass; just getting fewer rewards.

Presentation wise, Overwatch 2 is pretty much more of the same when it comes to gameplay. Levels and characters are mostly  the same with minor adjustments such as Overwatch 2 specific skins. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing since Overwatch is just a great looking game. When you come across new maps they look great, and the new hero already sets our expectations high for what’s to come.

When it comes to Overwatch 2, this isn’t some completely new game that revamps the original Overwatch experience; yet. In it’s current state, Overwatch 2 feels like a larger update that moves the game in a great direction especially since it’s free to play now. While it doesn’t do much to stand out from the original, the changes themselves do enough to make the game feel even better than before. I can’t wait to see what is to come from Overwatch 2 as the seasons go on and we get even more content in the future.