Overwatch (2016)

 Xbox One
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
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  1. AusGamers
    Jun 6, 2016
    100
    There’s something to be said about a game that does one thing well, and in the realm of online shooters that’s more important than tacking on a string of different modes or story content.
  2. IGN Denmark
    May 30, 2016
    100
    Overwatch leaves me longing for nothing. Nothing at all. The tight fusion of game modes and heroes is another sure hit for Blizzard. They don't follow any standard; rather, they're creating a new.
  3. Digital Spy
    May 28, 2016
    100
    From its celebratory replays to its hero of the match voting and on-the-fly hero switching, it's a game that does everything it can to make you feel good and bring you into the scene. Play it if you love online shooters, play it if you don't: Overwatch is ready to join the likes of Quake and Team Fortress 2 in the pantheon of greats.
  5. InsideGamer.nl
    May 31, 2016
    95
    Blizzard's first shooter is as accessible as it is competitive, which is an excellent combination. It does not matter what type of gamer you are, you will love Overwatch, too. The Heroes are extremely cool, their abilities are versatile and playing in teams is amazing.
  6. Impulsegamer
    May 29, 2016
    95
    Weapons and equipment are equally as diverse as the characters and whether that’s shurikens, mines or guns, everything has a place.
  7. IGN
    May 24, 2016
    94
    While it didn't exactly drown me in options, maps, and modes, it’s blessed with a multitude of tactical layers, and none of them ever came between me and my enjoyment of its intense, swirling teamfights, and thrilling overtime comebacks.
  8. Xbox Achievements
    Jun 1, 2016
    93
    Overwatch abandons a lot of what we’ve come to expect from multiplayer shooters to create a fresh, exciting, fantastically entertainingly experience. I may never play anything else.
  9. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Jul 14, 2016
    90
    Blizzard at its best, refining a formula until it sings. As good as team-based shooters get. [Aug 2016, p.83]
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  10. XboxAddict
    Jul 13, 2016
    90
    Despite a few drawbacks, which aren't deal breakers, Overwatch is one of the best games I've played this year. It's simplistic nature really allows you to just pick up a controller and shoot everything in sight. This is easily a game that will drain countless hours of your life away thanks to its quality, execution, and simplistic core.
  11. Stevivor
    Jun 26, 2016
    90
    The bottom line is that Overwatch is easy to pick up and understand, and amazingly fun to play.
  12. DarkStation
    May 31, 2016
    90
    While games like Call of Duty and Battlefield make you feel like a warrior, playing Overwatch feels like joining the Avengers. Hell, that’s pretty much what Overwatch is: a loose collection of heroes with special powers in battle.
  13. MondoXbox
    May 28, 2016
    90
    One of the most interesting games of the year, bringing a breath of fresh air in the Arena Shooter genre with an inspired design and highly accessible, yet satisfying, gameplay. Its main downside is the limited set of modes, something we hope Blizzard will keep expanding month after month.
  14. High-Def Digest
    May 26, 2016
    90
    Despite Blizzard’s untested pedigree in the realm of shooters, they have managed to craft one of the best entries in this generation. As a critic a big part of my work is to find flaws, and I had a tough job with this game. Overwatch is loud, it’s fast, it’s audacious, and it is a welcome shot in the arm in a flagging genre.
  15. IGN Spain
    May 26, 2016
    90
    We are hopelessly hooked on this exclusively multiplayer proposal, but we would like Blizzard to provide us with a greater variety of options, especially in the long term.
  16. Windows Central
    May 25, 2016
    90
    With flawless and varied character design there's something unique for everyone, combining the most desirable attributes from the biggest shooters of today. Blizzard's ability to perfect a game's balance has come to light once again, creating one of the most exhilarating multiplayer shooters this generation.
  17. ICXM
    May 25, 2016
    90
    Overwatch is the most detailed and stylised game that you will every play. Blizzard have created one of the most fantastic multiplayer experiences I have played in years.
  18. games(TM)
    Jun 20, 2016
    80
    Right now, Overwatch is a fantastic multiplayer shooter that will likely only hold your attention in the weeks to come if you have friends to roll with.
  19. NZGamer
    May 29, 2016
    79
    Blizzard have made a really good game with Overwatch, and succeeded in building a foundation from which they can build another mega-franchise. But it’s not perfect. Despite their inclusion of so many eSport friendly features and an incredible diverse cast of uniquely powered characters, a lack of modes, party options, and a context-creating campaign are sore points in my eyes.
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
This publication has not posted a final review score yet.
These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.

In Progress & Unscored

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  1. GameSpot
    May 24, 2016
    What's amazing is that, despite how different each hero is, they clash, interact, and cooperate in compelling matches.

Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best Xbox One Game of 2016
6
#6 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2016
11
#11 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2016

User Reviews

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User Score
5.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 985 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 518 out of 985
  2. Mixed: 113 out of 985
  3. Negative: 354 out of 985
  1. captainkane
    May 27, 2016
    4
    Critics are giving Blizzard a free pass. For $60, gamers are only getting a third of a game, if that. Titanfall was hammered for its “lack” ofCritics are giving Blizzard a free pass. For $60, gamers are only getting a third of a game, if that. Titanfall was hammered for its “lack” of content, but Overwatch’s dearth of content is overlooked? Halo 5 was hammered for a short campaign and missing local co-p, but Overwatch doesn’t even have a campaign! Yet it’s a 90 Metascore? Overwatch only has 2 game modes, no co-op, no campaign, no meaningful progression, a handful of maps—yet all this is overlooked. No other title has gotten away with such blatant exclusions. It all proves how critics are not only full of **** they play favorites too.

    Overwatch suffers from some major problems. Foremost, the lag is horrendous. Servers operate at a tickrate of 20hz. This is slow. Comparatively, Battlefield 4 servers were around 10hz at launch, and anyone who played BF4 knows how bad the lag was at the beginning. Now BF4 servers run between 30-60hz. Basically, sub 30hz is just too damn slow and DICE realized it. Black Ops 3 servers operate at 32hz, and that’s barely passable. Overwatch features much faster gameplay than COD, and the slow tickrate equates to more missed shots. Some players are impossible to kill because the servers simply can’t keep up. There are some good videos online which discuss the problems with low tickrates.

    Low tickrates equate to low overhead because fewer servers are needed. Since Overwatch isn’t based on a subscription model, it’s reasonable to assume Blizzard implemented a low tickrate to cut costs. Not wise.

    Servers are unreliable too. Players are constantly disconnected from games. Stats aren’t saved when this happens. So if players are kicked out of a great match, they lose all their progress. Overwatch also penalizes them for dropping out early. How does losing 75% experience for the next 12 matches sound? That's what happens when Blizzard boots you from the server.

    Crappy matchmaking is another problem. Random/solo players often get paired with premade teams and get crushed. I see the same problem with Battleborn. It’s absolutely game-breaking. Overwatch favors teams, so groups ought to play against other groups. Instead, Blizzard is pushing speedy matchmaking over quality matchmaking. Most matches are completely lopsided with one team getting early momentum and maintaining it throughout the entire match. If a lobby of random players wins too many matches, Overwatch breaks up the lobby and puts the players in different games. I’m serious. Penalizing random players for winning is bull**** especially since premade teams have the upper hand.

    Blizzard and console makers need to team up and eliminate party chat from public matches. Forcing players to talk with each other will greatly improve match quality. I doubt that will happen. Gaming has become such an antisocial activity lately. Oh, the days of Halo 2 and Left 4 Dead... Sigh.

    Overwatch doesn’t balance teams either. There’s no limit on the occurrences of each character. In other words, players on a team can use the same character and spam abilities. I recently left a match where all players on the enemy team choose Mei and spammed her ice wall. My team was locked in spawn. I’ve seen other teams spam D.Va because of her ridiculously OP ultimate.

    And like all hero shooters, some characters are vastly superior to others. There’s a reason so many people run around as Tracer, D.Va, Reaper, Bastion, and Soldier 76. They’re fast, can self-heal, and are really hard to hit. Despite its composition, Overwatch plays more like COD than Team Fortress 2. The pacing is fast and games aren’t tactical.

    Console players favor run-and-gun lone wolf play that isn’t conducive here. There’s little incentive to experiment. Bastion and D.Va can easily wipe out entire teams in seconds. Others like Symmetra are high cost, low reward characters. When getting steamrolled, teams can’t wait for Symmetra’s portal to charge up. And since console players tend to value K/D over win/loss, deadlier characters will be favored over supportive ones.

    Lastly, map design is uninspired. Like Advanced Warfare, it’s hard to distinguish what can and can’t be accessed. Poor map design makes Pharah’s jetpack or Widowmaker’s grappling hook damn frustrating to use at times. Spaces are tight, so players are generally piled on top of each other in a claustrophobic nightmare.

    The lack of content is mind-blowing. It’s shameful. Blizzard is clearly capitalizing on its name and marketing to bury the fact Overwatch is a half-baked product. The numerous missteps in game design, server set up, and matchmaking are enough to make me wanna quit. Anyone who gives this game a high score is foolish. I know people are enjoying it, but that doesn’t make Overwatch a great product. This trend of pushing half-finished games out the door has to stop. Now that Blizzard has done it to high critical acclaim, every developer who has hesitated will jump on the bandwagon. COD Infinite Warfare isn’t looking so bad now.    … Full Review »
  2. kholland65
    May 25, 2016
    5
    The only thing that makes this game fun imho opinion is the variety of the characters. Each one is unique which helps spice up the the game.The only thing that makes this game fun imho opinion is the variety of the characters. Each one is unique which helps spice up the the game. The game also looks pretty good. Other than that, I think this is a very weak game that feels unfinished. It ultimately feels more like a beta than a full game.

    First of all the lack of content is astounding. After a few hours I felt like I had already finished the game and experienced everything it had to offer. There was literally no purpose for playing the game further. There is no ranking system, no competitive play, no clans, no campaign, no alternative game modes. Just one mode, 2 gametypes, that's it.

    The aiming also feels very strange in this game. I am an experienced FPS player and I'm still struggling to get a handle on this games aiming. I am yet to find a sensitivity that seems to work for me.

    The maps are pretty straight forward and inventive. Each one feels like the same map just with a different skin. They are all linear with a few offshooting pathways here and there.

    You can tell there are some slight balance issues between the characters that needs to be addressed. A handful of them appear clearly stronger than the others, and vice versa there is a handful that seem underpowered compared to the rest. Most matches consist of the same 10 or so characters.

    This game also forces you to play with a group of friends. Unlike other shooters, this game is heavily reliant on teamwork, communication, team composition. It's not a game where a collective of individual skilled players can easily dominate. If a coordinated team of mediocre players goes up against 6 isolated but good players, the coordinated team will probably win. This isn't necessarily a flaw, but something to be considered if you are mostly a solo gamer, like me.

    Finally, it lacks conceptual innovation. It's feels like a complete rip off of TF2, even to the point that many of the characters play the same.

    Overall what the game does have I think was done ok. Things work, it's solid, it more or less plays like you can tell it was intended to play. However, it just feels like a half finished game. It feels like the beta of a game that would be awesome if given another year to polish it up and add some content.    … Full Review »
  3. OKIJIN
    May 24, 2016
    7
    I must make it clear that the graphics and gameplay for this are top notch. FANTASTIC! A ton of unlocks to work towards also. But what I'mI must make it clear that the graphics and gameplay for this are top notch. FANTASTIC! A ton of unlocks to work towards also. But what I'm concerned on is that Overwatch doesn't feel like a complete package. It's very fun, but not complete. We're given a backstory and character lore but none of it is in the game. I hate to do this but it's doing what Destiny did. Great backstory and lore but none of it is right there in the game. Not even a "campaign" multiplayer mode. To run it down, here's the and cons.

    Pros:
    -FANTASTIC gameplay
    -Diverse Characters, all feeling unique.
    -Excellent OST
    -Diverse settings

    Cons:
    -Lack of Lore and Backstory In-Game
    -No single player or multiplayer Campaign
    -Characters play one way

    I know I will get hate for this, but I love Overwatch. I do. But I will not be blinded by Blizzard and ignore what is missing in this game. This game could of been one of the greatest. It still can be if Blizzard adds in more for us who love the story and lore of what Blizzard has shown us.    … Full Review »
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