Is Overwatch Getting A Pass?

In the week of its release, Overwatch has received a lot of praise by mainstream media. But there's a vocal group of gamers wondering if the game is getting a pass. As a multiplayer-only game with micro-transactions, is Blizzard's FPS getting a free pass by the media?

[DragonDDark]

You can say that...

[garrettbobbyferguson]

That's putting it nicely. The game clearly is using Team Fortress 2 and CSGO's loot crate system. People have spent much too much money on just opening up crates already. It's funny how everything Blizzard does seems to get a free pass though.

"Why do you care"

I don't care. But you seem to not comprehend what I'm saying. Blizzard should not be getting a free pass for even offering people the ability to spend hundreds of dollars on cosmetics.

[TFJWM]

If people want to spend their money to buy skins or other non game improving stuff why do you care. The game plays the same for everyone regardless if you have just bought it or spent $500 on it....

[_-EDMIX-_]

buddy, "why do you care"?

Seriously?

Someone wants to spend their money on junk, they have free will to do that.

How is this an issue to you? So you are made others are spending their money how the want to? How does that effect you though? The are just skins....you'll live

[UnHoly_One]

I don't get the anger at Blizzard over having microtransactions in the game. It is all 100% cosmetic stuff that doesn't affect the gameplay in any way at all.

They are selling a product, and some people want to buy it. Where is the problem?

I don't like McDonald's hamburgers, but if I go there to get some chicken nuggets I'm not going to be pissed at them for selling something I don't want.

I just don't get it.

I don't have any desire to buy any loot boxes, but I could care less if they want to sell them. Good for them, I hope they make a bunch of money.

[MR_BLACKMAGIK]

It's funny how people like to say this is "for the clicks". I've been playing Overwatch this entire week and my time played is at 30 hours (according to the stats page). So I wrote a review for it and also wrote about a topic I find interesting, which is how a lot of people think the media is giving the game a pass.

So unless you expect me to write about random happenings that aren't at all relevant, everything would be considered "for the clicks". I write about what interest me at the time. I also don't consider myself a gaming journalist. I'm a gamer who happens to write his opinions and reviews on a website. Fell free to contact me directly on twitter @mrblackmagik if you want to discuss this further.

[PixelGateUk]

if the transactions effected gameplay then the game would of had a much more negative push back.

[Kane22]

SF5 got hated like hell for not having hardly enough content at launch..yet overwatch is being praised to high hell and people saying just wait there will be more...on top of that. the console version is being charged $20 more...

[Vegamyster]

SF5 launched with short Story Modes (Proper one doesn't come til June, the game came out in February), online (Ranked/Casual) & that's it, It was missing many basic features that the previous games had which is why people were upset.

[generic-user-name]

And where is OW's story mode?

[_-EDMIX-_]

"SF5 launched with short Story Modes"

Well.....thats nice. Overwatch isn't that soooooooo, I"m not sure what to tell you. The price for the game is fine as it was never going to be a SP game, thus not really sure what the point you are making is.....

That is like saying "Witcher 3 is an RPG with lots of hours, Overwatch is not" lol

Then....maybe you don't want to play the MP only genre. How is that the game developers fault? Their job was to create a MP only title.....that is all that should be expected.

You've known of this for months, you've played the beta and the team has been extremely transparent about what it actually is.

Witcher 3 is missing a MP mode with you're logic.

GTSport is missing having a story mode and being fighting game lol

When did games need to be ALL IN ONES? I don't recall that ever being the norm.

We had Quake, we had Doom, we had CS, we had TF series, we had BF when it was actually MP ONLY btw, we had Tribes, we had Planetside etc. I'm sorry bud, but MOST games were never really all in one bundle type deals, most gamers where either or, not both.

Most games that included some MP mode or SP mode...if it wasn't their main specialty, you could tell really, really quickly.

[DragonDDark]

@Edmix
Blizzard teased a campaign mode though

[Vegamyster]

@generic-user-name

Overwatch is a new IP, Blizzard made it as a MP shooter. Street Fighter is not, the new game lacked features that the previous games had. It would be like Call of Duty launching without a story mode & only had TDM/Domination modes in multiplayer, you don't expect less from a new game in a *established* franchise. That's why people were upset & is sold well under there expectations, it was basically rushed out for EVO.

@_-EDMIX-_

I don't know what you're going on about, i never said or implied "When did games need to be ALL IN ONES? I don't recall that ever being the norm." Look at my comment to @generic-user-name

[_-EDMIX-_]

Don't disagree with you on that one.

Folks didn't like SFV having limited content and having server issues at launch, I feel....maybe they should feel the same way about Overwatch.

I"m not sure though, I got SFV at launch and I didn't get Overwatch, so I don't really know what to say about this as I didn't play it to really know how bad it might have been (in terms server issues).

But I've read what is released with Overwatch and I actually personally think its fine for what it is. I played TF2 at launch with way, way less for over 300 hours.

[antz1104]

Well maybe that SF V averaged a 7.4 while Overwatch is holding steady at 9.1 has something to do with it. It's a ton of fun.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

I never saw a 9 type of game when I played the demo. Maybe 7 but a 9 seems a tad high.

[Sm00thNinja]

Demo..... demo.... demo keyword demo

[generic-user-name]

The demo that included all of the same characters and all of the same modes and maps as the full game?

[WellyUK]

all that means is you just don't like the game, a lot of other people love it.

[NotEvenMyFinalForm]

The game got no content and is getting 10's left and right.

[WellyUK]

games got no content yet I have triple the amount of hours in it already compared to those highly rated 12 hour SP games that come out. Sorry but you people are just wrong with it's content, people will get way more hours out of overwatch than the majority of SP games.

[BiggerBoss]

Doing the same thing over and over again =/= content

[WellyUK]

replaying the same 12 hour game over and over again =/= content.

[sdcard4gb]

The only thing that matters is that pass shouldn't be a season pass.

[Sm00thNinja]

But the people saying this haven't played the full game for an extended period. The game is pure fun is it eerily similar to the offerings Titan fall had at launch? Yes. But I think most fans are upset that games like SFV, Star Wars Battlefront, and even Drive Club to some degree didn't get the same looks that Overwatch is getting? It's a great game, it'd getting universal praise, it's out lets move on to the games coming down the pipeline. The game is genuinely fun whether it's overrated or not

[link2Dpast]

Incredible , fun, simple but Jesus effing Christ no one uses there damn mike's. It's a team game, there's times people have one because it shows and they still won't use it. Hopefully a ranking mode in some way pushes people to use mike's

[Horseheadinthebed]

I rarely mic up in games, I did on this earlier and got French team mates...typical , this game relies on the team sticking to the objective, not enough people choose support which if played correctly helps a huge amount

[link2Dpast]

i usually go symmetra depending on map but honestly most of the time I usually go support anyway but f it isn't her I go Lucia, or bastion and turbjon and play from a distance. It so crucial to give your team a chance to get back while you hold down the lines

[trouble_bubble]

Of course it's getting a pass. Article even says it's lacking but they gave it a 9 cuz it's fun. There have been tons of "fun" games over the years though, that -still- get dissected under the microscope and criticized for the same things Overwatch gets overlooked.

Hey Lego games are fun too, but at the end of the day they're not rated higher than Souls games. Budget games have been scrutinized more than this $79.99 cdn, MP-only content pending critical darling.

A risk here, is its showing publishers that instead of getting criticized for things like plot, story, length, writing, level design in SP campaigns, just take them out all together and launch a new IP at full price with some barebones MP options with the promise of more to come later.

Not saying what's there isn't okay, but compared to the effort put into some of its FPS peers like Doom or Destiny, at the same MSRP, i wouldn't say it's better.

[WellyUK]

Doom and Destiny lol. Overwatch is better than any MP game this gen. Just because it doesn't include a SP you get idiots like you who won't accept a high score for it because your obsessed with killing bots and 12 hour campaigns.

[trouble_bubble]

Idiot, lol?! Says the guy with emotional arrested development. It's just Overwatch calm down

[MilkMan]

You better believe it, the hype and BS is strong with this one.

[Manubiggs]

It shouldn't be full prices and the micro transactions are annoying...... But the truth is i love this game and can't stop playing

[sackboyhappy]

This should be a free to play or half the price of other games because the lack of content

[IamTylerDurden1]

Yes, it was supposed to be free to play, it lacks content, has microtransactions, cliche characters, poor shooting and balance. 2 game modes and no backstory yet ppl claim this is GotY? Hype job.

[kindkinesis]

i want to know people's opinion on something in video games, is it okay for a single player game to not have multiplayer and vice versa is it okay for a multiplayer game to not have story mode? i'm just curious how gamers feel about it cuz i am conflicted about the issue. Btw imo i think overwatch is overpriced for now.

[P_Bomb]

@kindkinesis
I think it's ok, but ideally (for the way i play anyways) I'd say MP-only games could stand to be cheaper.

The team deathmatch experience for me has become somewhat indistinguishable. Ive hit a bit of a glass ceiling as far as loot, classes, maps. Nothing wows me. Even COD now regularly reskins and resells old maps as new.

SP games on the other hand, seem to put more money where their mouth is, at least production wise. More is expected of them up front, not "later". I have an easier time parting with $70 knowing I'm getting a full experience, with enjoyment that's not reliant on other players showing up and/or not sucking, lol.

[WellyUK]

People still can't deal with the fact people have been playing this game for nearly a year now from alpha and ever since then people have loved it from press to the community, all you losers crying that a MP game got a very good rating are just cry babies. Yes a MP game can be just as good as a SP game for people.

Overwatch deserves these high scores even if it does include crates that don't impact on anything as they are just skins. There are other games recently that have micro transactions as well that really shouldn't by another hyped up dev that can do no wrong.

Overwatch is the best MP game in a long time.

[WickedLester]

I played the beta and I was just kind like "eh." I mean, it's well polished, it runs smooth, etc. But I don't think it's this monumentally amazing game and frankly I don't get the high scores. To me it's a solid 7.5 or 8. No way is this a 10 or a 9.

[DivineAssault]

I have yet to play it but im sure its fun with friends.. It wouldve been nice to have a campaign though

[cyber_daemonx]

It got a pass from me lol.

[Rumb13stiltzkin]

BATTLEBORN
- 25 characters (now 26)
- Three gametypes
- Eight hour campaign with 4-player co-op
- Modifiable gear and loadouts
- Individual character level progression (inside and outside of matches)
- Characters learn new abilities as they level (outside of matches)
- Customizable character abilities (alter how they play)
- Achievement-based titles
- Unlockable character skins and taunts
- Six maps
- Free multiplayer and character DLC (season pass is for campaign)
~~LACK OF CONTENT - NOT WORTH $60~~

OVERWATCH
- 20 characters with static abilities
- Four gametypes
- 12 maps
- Unlockable Skins and taunts
- Free multiplayer and character DLC
- Optional microtransactions
~~AMAZING VALUE WORTH $60 ON CONSOLES~~

[HawaiianDreads]

Overwatch is prettier I guess? Yeah after seeing capcom getting ripped a new one with the lack of content of SFV I thought Overwatch was going to suffer the same, but I guess people will give a free pass to blizzard.

[CoDsuperstar]

It is totally getting a pass, but right now it's skating by on the multiplayer being fun and the fact that this is blizzard. if they don't release enough content post launch the playerbase will drop off hard. features are very barebones (cant even vote for maps, matchmaking is sub-par).

[poseiden21]

No. It's $40 and Blizzard announced that all future maps/characters will be free. I assume they won't reneg on that. And all micros are optional cosmetic things which can be earned via loot boxes directly (getting it in the box) or buying it with digital currency (1000 gold - which can also be found in the loot boxes).