The reviews are in for Blizzard’s hero-based shooterOverwatch, with the game earning near-universal acclaim for its strong cast of characters and deep gameplay.
Blizzard enthusiasts have been waiting forOverwatchfor years, and like most games from the studio, it appears as thoughOverwatchwas worth the wait. Reviews have been coming in since its release last Tuesday, and the critic response toOverwatchhas been overwhelmingly positive, with the game now one of the highest-rated titles of the current generation so far.
Many fans probably aren’t surprised thatOverwatchhas been enjoying such strong reviews. After all,it had a very successful beta, and has had a considerable amount of hype behind it since its initial announcement. Overall, it looks like Blizzard has another hit on its hands withOverwatch, and fans should be able to expect the game to receive support for years to come.
Here is what critics around the web have to say aboutOverwatch:
Destructoid(Chris Carter)
“Truly, I believe that we’ll be seeing a lot more ofOverwatchin the years to come. Blizzard has a great track record when it comes to long-term support, and given how good it is out of the gate, it can only get better from here. Blizzard has truly snatched victory from the draws of defeat.”
Score: 10/10
Game Informer(Daniel Tack)
“Overwatchis an amazing experience. It’s fresh and consistently fun, with matches that are great in random groups, but astonishingly good when played with friends. Blizzard has taken its masterful art of polishing and perfection to the team shooter, and things will never be the same.”
GameSpot(Mike Mahardy)
“It’s that intoxicating path of discovery that makesOverwatchso varied, so rewarding, and ultimately another seminal release from developer Blizzard.Overwatchis an intelligent cascade of disparate ideas, supporting one another, pouring into one another, and coiling around themselves as they flow into the brilliant shooter underneath.”
Score: 9/10
IGN(Vince Ingenito)
“Slick, gorgeous, and flush with tactical depth,Overwatchis the new gold standard for multiplayer shooters.”
Score: 9.4/10
Polygon(Russ Frushtick)
“There’s no question thatOverwatchis a masterfully designed game. The wide array of amazing, unique characters, and the original ways they interact with one another, make for a peerless teamplay experience in the shooter space. Some issues, like a dissatisfying progression system and a hostility to solo players, hinder the overall experience, but the core ofOverwatchremains strong throughout. It’s an easy recommendation to make, so long as you’ve got some friends to back you up.”
Score: 8/10
In summation, it appears as though most all critics are impressed with the tactical depthOverwatchbrings to the table, and howthe game’s charactersplay off each other in clever ways. Some have gone as far as to callOverwatchthe “perfect team shooter,” and with all the positive reviews the game has received, that’s a sentiment that’s hard to argue with.
Of course,Overwatchis not free of criticism. Whilethe shooter’s microtransactionsdon’t seem to be a point of contention with most critics, they have pointed to its progression system as being lacking, and the game not being as fun when not playing with a group of friends. Some have also complained thatOverwatchdoesn’t have enough game modes, especially when compared to similar shooters on the market.
Regardless,Overwatch’s critical acclaim can’t be ignored, and it will be interesting to see if these strong reviews result in the game selling well. Considering how popular thebeta on PC, PS4, and Xbox Onewas and how positive its critical reception has been since launch, it seems likely that the game will be one of the top sellers for May 2016.
Overwatchis available now for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
