Welcome to Level Up!, a regular column in each CSUDH Bulletin about video games and video game culture from someone who spends every second of her free time hours deep into a game, just not recently because midterms.
By Beatriz Arreola
Lifestyle Editor
There will not be a new game review this time, sorry to disappoint you guys. I have something better: a game coming up on its two-year anniversary, but which constantly releases new content for its loyal players.
I want to put “Overwatch” under the throwback spotlight.
For those of you living under a rock, “Overwatch” is a team-based multiplayer online first-person shooter by Blizzard Entertainment that was launched in May 2016. The background of the game is what sets it apart from its competition. “Overwatch” is set 60 years into a fictionalized futuristic Earth that reached a golden age of prosperity and humans created robots with artificial intelligence.
What originally drew people to this game were the 21 characters launched on release day. Only two months after launch, they released a new character, and three months after that they released another.
Not to mention a map, tons of cosmetics, and holiday-related events.
Blizzard constantly updates the game with new content for their players at no cost. They allow the cosmetics to be bought with real money if people want. Or you can pray to Papa Jeff, which is what the community loving dubbed Jeff Kaplan the lead game director, that they receive that new Genji skin in those pesky loot boxes. (Take notes EA: forced micro-transactions to get good loot isn’t necessary.)
This year alone, they released their best map to date that ties their other amazing titles to the world they created for “Overwatch” called Blizzard World. They also put out the annual Chinese New Year event that featured new cosmetics and competitive capture the flag, and last but not least, they just announced hero 27, Brigitte.
What personally drew me to the game was the amount of options. You do not have to be a FPS god to play “Overwatch”. There are different roles like healer or tank you can choose. Every single one of the characters they bring out are created with a unique background that players can connect with.
The diversity “Overwatch” brings is truly refreshing and I don’t think I will ever get tired of it. Blizzard did an outstanding job with not only creating a gorgeous game, but they made the story of each individual character important which helped shape the world for the fans.
I highly recommend checking out one of the games in Overwatch League, Blizzard’s ESports league that follows a professional sports model, if you want to see how the game plays. They have 12 teams representing cities around the world, made up of the best pro gamers.
Go Los Angeles Valiant!
Do yourself a favor and check “Overwatch” out. Even if it’s just the league games, you won’t regret it.
