Yesterday saw the launch of Blizzard’s first ever shooter, Overwatch. It’s been around for a good while now, thanks to a closed, and later, open beta.
Now though, it’s officially out. Is it any good? Let’s take a look at what the critics think…
IGN – 9.4/10 (review still in progress however)
While it’s rare that a multiplayer-centric game develops a sense of place, there are a bunch of other things that multiplayer games are roundly expected to do, and Overwatch mostly accomplishes them. It does a great job of identifying and surfacing good play to teammates and opponents, and provides steady stream of unlocks and progression, as well as a strong online experience that gets you into games quickly and reliably. We’ll dive a little deeper into those elements once I’ve had a little more time with this final release (as opposed to the beta), but for now, just know that Overwatch is an incredible achievement in multiplayer game design, and one of the best games of the year so far.
Destructoid – 10/10
Truly, I believe that we’ll be seeing a lot more of Overwatch in 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.
Gameinformer – 10/10
Overwatch is 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 – review in progress
From the dozens of hours I’ve played in Overwatch’s betas, it’s clear that developer Blizzard has crafted a fantastic shooter worthy of praise on numerous levels. It manages to maintain focus, despite the complexities and variety of its cast, locales, and interlocking systems. However, because Overwatch’s servers only went live today, we’re holding our final opinion until we’ve tested the game on PC, PS4, and Xbox One in real world conditions. If all goes well from a technical standpoint, Overwatch stands to be one of the best shooters in years.
The Escapist – 5/5
Overwatch is a fast, fun, and fresh take on the class-based shooter. Blizzard has made sure its first new IP in 17 years is polished to perfection.
Ars Technica – review in progress
In a single word, “friendly” just about sums up the Overwatch experience in its early days. In the wide array of characters, the smooth sense of progression within each map and easy-to-grasp abilities, Blizzard seems poised to tap into yet another audience—curious but too intimidated by the sheer weight of established brands elsewhere in a popular genre.
Attack of the Fanboy – 4.5/5
Overwatch has been polished to a high sheen by Blizzard. There are a handful of nits to pick, but everything comes together in an extraordinary fashion when it could have just as easily been a mess of half-baked ideas.
Twinfinite – 5/5
As long as Overwatch at least resembles a type of game that that you enjoy, there’s so many reasons to feel confident stepping into its world. It’s wacky, pretty, incredibly fun, and should be supported well by Blizzard for years to come. At launch, there’s already so many things going so right, and Blizzard will only add to it.
Yeah, it looks like the critics are really enjoying it. That’s some solid praise all around!
I’ve poured many hours into Overwatch myself, and have loved every moment. Expect my full review of the shooter later this week.
Last Updated: May 25, 2016
Ottokie
May 25, 2016 at 09:31
Awww yuss! Gaze upon perfection people!
Mistake Not...
May 25, 2016 at 09:32
So is it good or not?
hairyknees
May 25, 2016 at 09:34
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD! 😛
VampyreSquirrel
May 25, 2016 at 09:42
You’ve had a love affair with this game since the closed beta, so I think your opinion is biased.
HairyEwok
May 25, 2016 at 10:05
so i guess its a…
http://i.imgur.com/i2UJxQK.gif
from you
VampyreSquirrel
May 25, 2016 at 09:33
Wow, that’s impressive thus far.
I WANT IT!
Ottokie
May 25, 2016 at 09:37
http://images-cdn.9gag.com/photo/aW6zxwn_700b.jpg
HairyEwok
May 25, 2016 at 09:59
Temporary necrophilia XD
Pariah
May 25, 2016 at 09:36
Overwatch? Overit.
Original Heretic
May 25, 2016 at 09:37
Yea, but will it make me a sandwich in the morning?
Strawman Jim
May 25, 2016 at 09:38
Overwatch? OVERPRICED, OVER-HYPED and now definitely OVERRATED! (Thanks Hammer)
Ottokie
May 25, 2016 at 09:39
I know right, they could have just stopped at 10/10 😛
Kromas GG
May 25, 2016 at 10:37
Steam review would have gone 11/10.
Ottokie
May 25, 2016 at 10:46
Insert “11/10 would be killed by Bastion again”
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
May 25, 2016 at 09:42
And Overpriced
Captain JJ bound
May 25, 2016 at 10:24
I think the ratings change once people have to pay for the game.
Strawman Jim
May 25, 2016 at 09:47
But seriously though, what the hell is up with these review scores? Are these guys back colluding on their google group? I mean this is ridiculous.
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 25, 2016 at 09:50
It’s the honeymoon phase.
Ottokie
May 25, 2016 at 09:51
Do you even know what the honeymoon phase is?
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 25, 2016 at 09:56
Of course I do!
Ottokie
May 25, 2016 at 09:59
#SPforlife 😛
Strawman Jim
May 25, 2016 at 10:05
There there Trevor.. you’ll always have Nick…
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 25, 2016 at 10:12
Yay! Wait…
DragonSpirit009
May 25, 2016 at 10:50
I don’t usually feel sad for people but this gif makes me feel sad for you.
Ottokie
May 25, 2016 at 10:52
Wait. There were GIFs?
Trev has to start linking these things, no one refreshes the page xD
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 25, 2016 at 10:58
SURPRISE!
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 25, 2016 at 10:59
lol. Wait… hey!
Captain JJ bound
May 25, 2016 at 11:16
XD
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
May 25, 2016 at 09:51
Must’ve been polygamy
Strawman Jim
May 25, 2016 at 09:57
Must have been a session of free loving!! Polyamory is rife among GAMEZ JURNALISSMMS.
https://sexyscience1.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/polyamory-feet1.jpg
HairyEwok
May 25, 2016 at 10:01
I do not see a polygon review… Gee, I wonder why XD
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
May 25, 2016 at 10:02
XD
Strawman Jim
May 25, 2016 at 10:04
Polylolygon couldn’t get the game started… 🙁 Poor worthless bastards 😀
GooseZA
May 25, 2016 at 10:33
But it’s soooooo goooood dude!
Captain JJ bound
May 25, 2016 at 10:35
They didn’t pay for the game. Same with NFS reviews. Check the user reviews versus paid reviews.
Strawman Jim
May 25, 2016 at 09:56
I’m just messing with you Matty – no trolling! 😛
hairyknees
May 25, 2016 at 10:33
Oh you <3
HairyEwok
May 25, 2016 at 09:57
So this is the beginning, where multiplayer games get better scores than actual single players story based games… The people have spoken i guess.
Strawman Jim
May 25, 2016 at 09:59
lol, time to enter the underground bunker, seal the doors and wait for the nuclear wars to cleanse the earth!
BakedBagel
May 25, 2016 at 10:14
Well im having serious withdrawal from this game. But im still in 2 minds. Ive never had this before. For me its either purchase, or forget. But i cant do either 🙁
help me 🙁
HairyEwok
May 25, 2016 at 10:21
Stand fast, No Man’s Sky is coming.
GooseZA
May 25, 2016 at 10:34
Again, if the game makes you feel this way it’s a no brainer in my opinion.
BUY IT!
BakedBagel
May 25, 2016 at 11:19
GAAAAAHHHHH
MY WALLET… MY WALLET’S TELLING ME NOOOooooo.
BUT MY BODY… MY BODY IS TELLING ME YHEEEEEEEEeeeeesssss
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 25, 2016 at 11:24
And now your bank account is… OVERDRAWN
Matthew Holliday
May 25, 2016 at 09:58
its somehow casual friendly and heavy gamer friendly at the same time
good / 10
Strawman Jim
May 25, 2016 at 10:08
HAHAHAHAHA I’ve been blocked by Destructoid! HAHHAHHAHAHA
Strawman Jim
May 25, 2016 at 10:14
Here you go Hammer: https://www.destructoid.com/minecraft-billionaire-feels-oppressed-by-women-363094.phtml They even locked the comment section!
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
May 25, 2016 at 10:21
XD mansplaining
BakedBagel
May 25, 2016 at 10:11
No polygon
Lazygamer. This is how you make me wet.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
May 25, 2016 at 10:11
No offense but no one likes a soggy bagel 😛
BakedBagel
May 25, 2016 at 10:12
Offense taken.
((thinking of an -ist term to associate with being soggy))
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
May 25, 2016 at 10:14
bagelist?
BakedBagel
May 25, 2016 at 10:15
Please check your Baked Privilege
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 25, 2016 at 10:27
Careful, we’re the minority here. Most of them don’t like having their food exposed to any sort of heat.
Captain JJ bound
May 25, 2016 at 10:28
There’s heat, then there’s the eternal flame.
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 25, 2016 at 10:29
Is that a reference to your avatar or did you forget about it?
Captain JJ bound
May 25, 2016 at 10:30
Damn!
Either!
Both!
Strawman Jim
May 25, 2016 at 10:12
Lazygamer has made me so proud today – keep the lolypolygons off our great website!
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 25, 2016 at 10:14
…
Captain JJ bound
May 25, 2016 at 10:23
But is it on Steam?
Kromas GG
May 25, 2016 at 10:38
The battle.net app has always been my favorite of the distro apps. Steam is close second.
Captain JJ bound
May 25, 2016 at 11:16
All my games are on Steam, so anything that’s anywhere else usually just don’t see the light of day.
oVg whippersnapper
May 25, 2016 at 10:43
4/10 Inconclusive wreck it has always been.
– Washington Post
DragonSpirit009
May 25, 2016 at 10:47
Damn… I feel bad for not know anything about this game. Hopefully the future will bless me with some money to play this!
Viper_ZA
May 25, 2016 at 10:54
Guys, what is the latency like for playing this on PC? SERIOUSLY considering splurging on this as soon as I am done with Doom.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
May 25, 2016 at 10:56
They say the netcode is amazing.
Viper_ZA
May 25, 2016 at 10:56
That was very fast ey! Thank you…SOLD xD
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
May 25, 2016 at 11:02
XD
GooseZA
May 25, 2016 at 10:56
It really is.
GooseZA
May 25, 2016 at 10:56
Can’t speak for PC but it’s barely noticeable on XB1. Game is fantastic!
Viper_ZA
May 25, 2016 at 10:56
So it might be good on PS4 too? ;P
GooseZA
May 25, 2016 at 10:58
Might be 🙂
I mean, we have no servers and Blizz games usually sit at between 150-200ms for me, but even with this everything felt super smooth. No rubber banding and it was easy to land hits on people. And this was while my wife was streaming series.
Ottokie
May 25, 2016 at 10:56
The in game stats say 155ms but it’s probably the same as WoW and around the 190ms range.
Ottokie
May 25, 2016 at 10:57
But you don’t notice the difference in ping really/or even at all
GooseZA
May 25, 2016 at 10:58
This.
hairyknees
May 25, 2016 at 11:10
Blizzard power their servers via black magic 😛 seriously, the lag is barely noticeable
James Anderton
May 25, 2016 at 11:15
Tarisma
May 25, 2016 at 11:18
Played yesterday a lot. The latency is 100% fine. Seriously whoever designed the netcode needs a promotion
Tarisma
May 25, 2016 at 11:19
Anyone wanna team up on PC and join us on TS, gimme a shout.
ReverendFunk
May 25, 2016 at 20:31
Jackal#2969 do it!