What are the new Overwatch Missions Like?
Overwatch recently went free to play with the launch of Overwatch 2, which initially promised to have a single-player RPG-like campaign attached. In a difficult business decision, Blizzard made the call to scrap this mode which caused a bit of discord amongst fans of the series. The game is getting review bombed on Steam, and there’s a lot of negative noise surrounding the latest content update. Season 6: Invasion is the largest content drop to date for Overwatch 2 which comes with the optional PVE mission pack for around $25 AUD, so we thought we would dive into this single-player experience, and see what it’s like.
Credit where credit is due, Blizzard is still able to craft an amazing narrative, and while I’m not a hardcore Overwatch fan, I was really impressed with this mission pack. When launching into the new mission modes, you are greeted with frantic snippets of what’s to come… a world at war. This story pack serves as the beginning of Overwatch, as the previous character stories and snippets have always been flashbacks. These missions tell the story of how members were recruited, and hopefully, this narrative gets fleshed out more in future updates.
The first mission based in Rio de Janeiro, involves you playing as 1 of 4 characters against an Null Sector invasion. This story focuses on Lucio, but you can play as certain other characters that are involved in this particular part of the story. I was really impressed with the look and feel of the mission as it manages to convey the feeling of the invasion and being outnumbered by a far superior numerical force. There are boss fights, giant assault frigates, and daring escapes that excite. All of this action holds up really well on the Switch hardware, with detailed effects and a smooth framerate.
The second mission follows the titular character of Overwatch 2, Sojourn, and flips the recipe to deliver a more somber and impactful story, leaving you with an overwhelming sense of threat and despair. This mission isn’t slow, however, as you will frantically fight to protect innocent lives and escape the invasion of Toronto. It’s filled with some epic set pieces as well and introduces more fan favourites to the fray.
The 3rd and final mission focuses on Torbjörn and features war on a grand scale as you fight to repel the invasive forces around Torbjörn’s home base. Amidst the giant mech battles and deploying of turrets, there’s a sentimental undertone that shows players what’s at stake for these characters, and dives deeper into their motivations for either joining Overwatch, or turning their back on it. The completion of all 3 missions unlocks a great skin for Sojurn, but also sets up something much larger which I won’t spoil here. Sure, gamers may lament over the fact that we won’t have a single-player RPG that was initially promised, but what we did get in this package is a great start, and one I hope they continue with.
These 3 story missions expand the world of Overwatch and I’m really invested now. I feel the price is reasonable, especially for a free-to-play game, and as a casual Overwatch player, I acknowledge that I wasn’t really invested in the promises of Overwatch 2 at launch so I feel it’s best not to comment there. Instead, I will comment on what this pack is, an engrossing and action-packed addition to a great game that makes me care a lot more about the motivations of the characters involved. The lovingly crafted cutscenes, the narrative of the story, and the well-paced levels flesh out the characters’ motivations and give players a deeper look into the world of Overwatch.
If you enjoy Overwatch, even casually, then this pack will surely be worth your attention, and if you are a fan, it’s essential.
