It’s really that feeling of working as part of a team, mastering the characters and controlling the map that makes Overwatch such a joy to play, even without getting the content you want for your favorite character. In one match, my team and I made a last defense on a capture map. Our Bastion entered turret mode to spray one entry point, and Reinhardt held up his shield at another with Zarya close behind, supplying him with a personal shield. Soldier 76 sprinted to the front to deal heavy damage with Mercy flying behind providing a damage boose. All the while, a Widowmaker hid at the very back, ready to snipe enemies that somehow made it past our defenses. In a world filled with so many “go-it-alone” multiplayer shooters, having a game like Overwatch Lore that offers so many unique ways to play as a team is refreshing and fun.
This level of inclusion might not mean that much to gamers, but after showcasing the game to a few close friends, including female and minority gamers, we were all in agreeance that Blizzard’s design decisions made the game resonate with us more so than other games have, even if they aren’t an integral part of the experience. Still, as much as I am a fan of the diverse characters of Overwatch, the diversity within the game’s playable heroes is only one facet of the game’s dedication to inclusivity. While there are plenty of diverse characters, there are a few traditional, archetypal ones as well, though these are used to great effect.
If you’re looking to dive into the world of being a tank but don’t necessarily want to just absorb damage or worry about only fighting at close range, then D.Va is the character for you. What makes this particular hero unique is that she’s an absolute beast when inside of her mech, but once its health reaches zero, D.Va essentially gets a second life as a light glass cannon. While D.Va is inside of her mech, her main weapons are her Fusion Cannons, which allow her to fire unlimited ammo at short range. Despite the fact that these weapons function like machine guns, they shouldn’t be thought of in the same manner as, say, Bastion’s Recon weapon, as their range is considerably shorter than one would expect. Still, if you’re looking to cause more damage than anyone else on your team, then you could do a lot worse than peppering your foes with D.Va’s Fusion Cannons. A small note, D.Va loses a great deal of her movement speed when using these weapons, so you’re not going to want to just permanently hold down the fire button.
Disclaimer: The following opinions are those of the author only. In this post, he complains about a title that most of the staff here adores. He might be wrong, but we tolerate him. His milkshake does bring all the boys to the yard, after all.
This focus on overall team success is part of the game’s DNA, and it shows both in-game and when you’re not actively in a match. There are plenty of leaderboards and statistics to let you know how you fare with each character, and the ability to try out each character in a ‘tutorial map’ is a very useful feature. In-game, there are plenty of ways to communicate with teammates. Aside from traditional methods like voice or type chat, pre-determined messages can be accessed on the fly, from simple greetings to more informational chatter.
Safe to say that the expansion of the internet as not just a tool for communication, but hub for “creativity” (putting it mildly) has given users the means as much the confidence to feel they have a platform to express their feelings without coming across as aggressive, or even saying a solitary word in their respective language. They have the power to reflect the consensus of the wider community, be that their original intention or not. Being the video editing novice that I am, it never ceases to make me smile how even the most simple chop-and-change can shine a ravenously merciless light on, say, the over-indulgent marketing ploys of a game and turn what was a passively-forgettable moment into something entirely more worrying. Least of all when said game ends up being, to a considerable number at least, a rather lacking – if occasionally fun – experience . But anybody can load a video with crazy effects, whack the infamous ‘MLG’ stamp on it and find itself but the latest entry in a long-running, if staple, example of gaming culture having a pop at its own over-zealous indulgence and self-gratifying crotch-handling.
D.Va’s first ability, her Boosters, allow her to rapidly fly in whichever direction the reticle is facing for a handful of seconds. Not only is this a wonderful method for getting to an objective or getting out of trouble, but it also allows her to cause a bit of damage whenever she comes in contact with an enemy. In addition to the Boosters, D.Va also has access to the Defense Matrix, which functions as a smaller version of Reinhardt’s shield (essentially absorbing all incoming fire).
If you can go out of your way to make something (that could be deduced as) rather bonkers — knowing full well when and where to walk that perilous line between genuine and forced humour — you can at least walk away knowing players will credit you with falling into the “they made it even though they didn’t have to” sub-section. And believe me, alongside “surprisingly addictive” mini-games, 2D backgrounds and actual reflective mirrors, humour is another opportune asset that can go a long, long way to appreciating what said game actually stood for at the given time. Away from the regular check-list on what specifically to critique. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with having a game that’s entirely, unapologetically dry, perhaps perceived initially as far from comedy as one can get — narratively or otherwise. But, ironically, this is why a “one last thing”-type of satire or bit on the side, works far better than when it’s already wrestling for attention amidst a game that not for one second takes itself seriously and is instead its own fuel for fun and folly. Even if it is for the intent to promote something else entirely (video game-related or not) I will commend any developer who’s willing, for example, to throw together the good guys, the bad guys and the in-between guys into some surreal comedy skit-meets-daily life send-off to a game’s campaign .