Overwatch 2
Sequel has fun teamwork, great diversity; very rocky launch.
Overwatch 2
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Overwatch 2 is a downloadable online multiplayer first-person shooter that's free to play on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox One S|X, Nintendo Switch, and Windows (via the Battle.net application). Heavily objective based and teamwork oriented, players fight in two groups of five for control of points to be captured or objects to escort. There are 35 characters who capture an admirable array of genders, ethnicities, nationalities, and cultures, including elderly folk and people with physical disabilities. All are divided into three separate groups that specialize in defense, offense, and support. Each character caters to multitudes of playstyles with weapons, abilities, and movement that differ wildly even within their own groups. The combat itself is tame with subtle splashes of stylized blood. Characters say "hell" and "damn" occasionally, but since verbal communication can be important via in-game voice and text chats, parents should be warned that worse words can be heard if other players aren't muted. You can purchase in-game currency with real-world money for advertised cosmetics and a Premium Battle Pass. While new characters and skins can be earned through gameplay, there's greater incentive to buy in than before. Some of these outfits feature women with several skin-tight suits that clearly outline their backsides. Other outfits have minor cleavage or short skirts.
Community Reviews
Decent, but over-sexualized.
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Amazing game for kids if your kid likes action and is above 11 this is the best game you can play
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What’s It About?
OVERWATCH 2 doesn't have a dedicated story mode, but it does have a rich universe primarily explored outside the game with animation shorts, books, and comics. The premise features the international task force called Overwatch, which was assembled during the Omnic Crisis: a world war between robots and humans. Once this conflict ceased, the group was disbanded after scandals broke out that exposed corruption from within the organization. In its absence, the terrorist group Talon sowed disorder and violence around the world for years. With old and new heroes wondering what can be done to push back, one of them sends out a distress call to reunite and resurrect Overwatch to stop Talon's plans to incite conflict. This has been the story premise since the first game in 2016, and the timeline hasn't gone forward much with the exception of several heroes showing up to answer the call in Overwatch 2; the game's relatively unconcerned with its present overarching story in contrast to emphasizing the backstories of and relationships between its characters.
Is It Any Good?
To be clear, the first game and this sequel are largely the same. Overwatch 2 retains the core content and gameplay of the original, but has been updated more extensively than ever before. What's new are several maps, three characters, and the Push mode: a fun tug of war-inspired game where players fight for control of a robot and attempt to guide it farther into the enemy team's territory than they can with yours. Several existing characters have been reworked with new abilities and roles. Instead of six players per team, there are now five, and players need to commit to particular roles in matches. As a whole, Overwatch 2 makes quality-of-life tweaks and bold character balancing adjustments that aren't perfect, but refine an already stellar experience. Cooperation and coordination are essential to victory since characters have such diverse, pronounced strengths and weaknesses in objective-oriented mode. Few multiplayer titles can compete with how well designed and exciting Overwatch 2 can be with team-oriented gameplay.
New players have a slew of wonders to behold, but the launch of this new chapter of Overwatch will leave veteran players expecting more. More modes and cooperative story missions are promised but disappointing to not see yet. Weeks into its release, account migration and connectivity issues abound, including one character being completely taken out of the game for balancing, which never happened in the first Overwatch. The game's biggest mistake comes with overhauls made to its progression systems and digital store. Before, players earned free "loot boxes" at a decent rate from leveling up and completing simple challenges, which rewarded players with randomly generated cosmetics and in-game currency. It's nice that you can directly buy currency now to purchase particular items, but rewards are earned at a notably slower rate through gameplay alone. The new digital store and Premium Battle Pass also locks one new hero (and future ones) — who can provide game-changing advantages — behind paywalls unless you complete a steep list of challenges. The shift toward more monetization is from Overwatch 2 becoming free to play, but the current market skews unnecessarily predatory and restrictive in small yet unwelcome ways. In the moment-to-moment action, the game puts itself back on the map as a champion among multiplayer games with incisive improvements to its design and feel. But big technical issues, less rewarding progression, and relatively little content at launch prevents Overwatch 2 from being worthy of its status as a sequel.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Parents can talk to their kids about online cooperation. The game gives you a "communication wheel" to issue basic commands and observations without a microphone, but are you using this tool effectively to work with teammates? How can you adapt and communicate to help your team win, but also be patient and flexible with other players to kick back and have fun?
If you're using a microphone, what are some ways you can encourage teammates? When you meet someone who's being mean to you or others, how can you protect yourself, and stand up for others?
When you see digital items you want, are you checking to see if you can earn them through gameplay? How can you recognize when a game is prompting addictive behavior or impulsive buying?
What does it take to be a hero? What should we look for in our own heroes with how they treat people and whom they advocate for? Who is putting their words into action?
Game Details
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows
- Pricing structure: Free
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
- Release date: October 4, 2022
- Genre: First-Person Shooter
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Superheroes, Robots
- Character Strengths: Communication, Perseverance, Teamwork
- ESRB rating: T for Blood, Use of Tobacco, Violence
- Last updated: December 1, 2022
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