Overwatch – Best of the Best of the Best

As you may recall, I had a go at Overwatch when it was in Open Beta. Myself and my colleagues here at FBF played a few rounds, seeing what the game was like. I wrote that I found it quite shallow with a rather large learning curve, and that it had some outright unfair issues where one team could basically camp outside an enemy base and not allow them to get started. I didn’t think I would buy it. However, seeing the culture that has arisen around it, as well as videos of people playing it and enjoying it, I decided to bite the bullet and got the game.

What I will never be.
What I will never be.

I have to say that, on the whole, I am enjoying it. I still think it’s somewhat shallow in places, and there is a very steep learning curve with the characters. In fact, the only ones I seem to be able to make any impact with as Soldier 76 – because he’s the one you get in the tutorial, Reaper – because he has weapons that cause heavy damage, and Bastion – because he’s Bastion. I’ve seen other people do extremely well with the other characters but I can’t get anywhere with them and the game doesn’t give yo umuch opportunity to learn. So I’m mainly sticking with the ones I’m familiar with.

Someone pointed out the logo looks like a hi-five. Now I can't unsee it.
Someone pointed out the logo looks like a hi-five. Now I can’t unsee it.

I was never really expecting to do well in the game but I do try to have fun with it. I like the fact that rounds aren’t decided by which team has the most kills, but by which team accomplishes the objectives, which usually boil down to take and hold. Tasks such as capturing points or healing yourself or otherscount for almost as much XP as killing the opposition, which is fine by me, and of course seeing the victory screen if we win – regardless of how much of a contribution I may or may not have made – is worthwhile.

My team definitely did not win this round. Nice family photo though.
My team definitely did not win this round. Nice family photo though.

Then, of course, there is the Play of the Game, where the player who made the most kills in the shortest amount of time gets to have their efforts showcased. Now, I actually feature in a lot of them in the games I’ve played – but mainly as being on the receiving end of whatever punishment is being dished out. However there was one occasion where I managed to get Play of the Game myself. Of course I recorded it for posterity and shared it on every social media I could.

IT'S MEEEE!!!!
IT’S MEEEE!!!!

Bastion is one of those characters you either love or hate. In the Beta he was notorious for being nigh-on unstoppable. His normal form isn’t that much to write home about, but he can turn into a stationary turret and absolutely hose down enemies, reducing them to shreds in very short order. It was a Bastion player who contributed to my bad experience in the Beta where he took up position right outside our door, shooting into our base and preventing us from leaving – which I still say is inexcusable. On this occasion though I was having a reasonably good time with him. As you can see from the screenshots.

First one down.
First one down.

My team was losing this particular match. We were defending an objective – having already lost the first objective to the opposing team – and I was trying to find a decent position. On this particular map there are platforms that move around. At one point I had accidentally stepped on to one and decided to go with it, transforming to turret mode and just riding around shooting down anyone who came into range. That was fun, although it was cut short when someone finally caught up to me.

Two more quickly follow.
Two more quickly follow.

Later on I was looking for a convenient ledge overlooking the objective we were tryign to defend. I found one and set up shop. And then the killing spree began. The first kill was on the very top of the head of one opponent, followed by two more, again followed by someone else who tried to run out of one of the alleys, with a final kill to finish off. It looked and felt amazing. When it came up as Play of the Game I couldn’t believe it. The clip didn’t include the final kill but it still captured the moment perfectly. Then no-one voted for me on the result screen. Ungrateful wretches.

And there goes the fourth.
And there goes the fourth.

I still feel like I have kind of a love-hate relationship with Overwatch. When things go well they go very well, however there are still frequently times where I just can’t get anywhere with it – even more so if my team is just getting blocked at every turn. Maybe the matchmaking needs to be better? Anyway I’ll still keep playing it and who knows, maybe I’ll get more Plays further on down the road.

VOTE FOR ME!
VOTE FOR ME!

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