Overwatch 2 Is Good And Fun
(when the queue time to get into the game isn't a complete and total disaster)
As I’ve said many times on this newsletter: I love Overwatch. It’s probably my favorite game of all-time, and I put over 1,000 hours into the first rendition of it.
Well, the updated “Overwatch 2” has been out a little over a week, so I figure it’s time to talk about that.
I won’t explain Overwatch again, but if you’d like to read my attempts at explaining that, as well as the professional side of it, you can read that here. I will, however, say some of the changes that came with Overwatch 2, which is not a new game but instead an update to the old one:
Change from 6 vs. 6 games to 5 vs. 5. There is now just one tank per team.
Added a new game mode called Push while getting rid of the maps with 2 control points
Added three new heroes: Sojourn (Damage hero), Junker Queen (Tank) and Kiriko (Support).
There is now a battle pass tier system to unlocking things like new skins and, sometimes, new heroes.
Not all heroes are unlocked for new players, but all returning players get everything.
There are other small changes, but these are the substantial ones that make the game feel different. Those last two bullet points have also been a hotbed of controversy and debate on if it is bad or not.
I think these are less fun to argue about than the actual gameplay itself, so here’s briefly what I think: Overwatch 2 is free to play. Overwatch 2 gives all returning players every hero they know, and have worked to balance the game in an attempt to make sure that no heroes are “must-play” picks. Unlocking new heroes and skins aren’t new concepts, and if they don’t destroy the gameplay, everyone is just yelling into the abyss, and for what? I don’t think it’s as big a deal as people are saying it is.
Anyway, the game itself. It’s really fun!
I have always loved Overwatch 1, even through its worst versions of gameplay, but Overwatch 2 does one thing that’s deeply important: It feels not just different, but improved. The gameplay is free flowing, frantic and a complete blast. Having just one tank makes the pace of the fights kick up a notch instantaneously, and it makes playing the game fun no matter what role or hero you are on.
Each of the new heroes are also varying levels of excellent. Junker Queen is my least favorite to play of the three, but is extremely unique and definitely worth giving a shot. Sojourn is probably my favorite of the trio currently. Her shooting mechanics are so much fun, the railgun hits are deeply satisfying and, while she is probably overpowered, it never felt unbeatable when the opponent had her and your team didn’t.
Kiriko, pictured above, is not available in competitive settings for anyone yet, but I have loved playing her. The character seems very well designed, both as a healer and damage dealer, and her ultimate ability is amazing. The hype that followed her from the teaser video through the early tests was warranted.
There are some things Overwatch 2 does not have that Overwatch 1 did, like player cards at the end of games or a consistently shown rank to know where you place, but these are minor things I am already getting over just nine days after release.
The only major flaw this game has from my end has come on the back end. The insanely long queue times and consistent errors just trying to enter the game have been a nightmare. Some of this was the cause of DDOS attacks on the game (don’t ask me to explain what those are, I don’t know either), but I’ve never tried and failed to enter any game as much as Overwatch 2.
Getting constant errors and waiting up to hours to get in during the first few days was misery, but once I got into the game, it was just a better version of the game I fell in love with. That’s all I ever wanted.
Top 25
Getting near the halfway point of the college football season, here’s where I have the top teams:
1.) Ohio State (-)
2.) Alabama (-)
3.) Georgia (-)
4.) Clemson (+1)
5.) Tennessee (+1)
6.) Michigan (-2)
7.) Oklahoma State (+1)
8.) USC (-1)
9.) Ole Miss (-)
10.) UCLA (+7)
11.) Penn State (-)
12.) Oregon (-2)
13.) TCU (+2)
15.) NC State (+3)
16.) Wake Forest (+4)
17.) Syracuse (+5)
18.) Kansas (-5)
19.) Kansas State (-)
20.) James Madison (+3)
21.) Mississippi State (NEW)
22.) Coastal Carolina (+3)
23.) Cincinnati (+1)
24.) Tulane (NEW)
25.) Utah (-11)
Some thoughts:
Yes, Alabama almost lost and Georgia killed Auburn. I think Auburn is terrible and that Texas A&M is better than Missouri, so I am leaving it as is for now. Ohio State remains at 1 because it easily looks like the most complete team in the country.
There’s movement in Nos. 4-6 for now, but these three are easily in their own tier. Clemson looks back to form and Tennessee keeps playing really good football and has some excellent wins on the résumé. Michigan did end up beating Indiana comfortably, but watching that game gave me concerns about the Wolverine offense. JJ McCarthy has so much potential, but it’s not being realized yet. The defense is great once again, but I think the Tigers and Volunteers have jumped them for the time being.
Credit to UCLA man. The Washington win was excellent, but following that up with a victory over Utah is something else. This Chip Kelly offense is absolutely grooving, and I’m excited to keep seeing it go against top competition.
TCU and Kansas played in the potential game of the year last weekend and I am not dropping the Jayhawks far for losing it. These are both excellent teams that deserve their places in the top 25, just excellent football to watch.
Mississippi State is better than I thought. Games against Kentucky and Alabama in the next two weeks will decide just how wrong I was.
Tulane deserves credit. The Green Wave is 5-1 and has an excellent victory over Kansas State on the résumé. The Southern Miss loss is, uh, bad, but just one loss with a win that strong gets you on here.
Utah is the first two-loss team to get a spot in this Top 25. It was a hard fought loss against UCLA, but this Utes team needs to be able to win the close ones. USC is up next, so that should be a banger.
This weekend’s college football slate is so. good. Can’t wait to see how it all shakes out.