Overwatch Expert Flats Exposes Major Hero Identity Crisis and Balance Flaw

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As an ardent Overwatch 2 enthusiast, I’ve recently uncovered what seems to be the game’s most pressing problem – a significant balance issue that’s been causing turmoil in the hero design realm, leading to a sort of existential dilemma for these iconic characters.

One of the leading creators of Overwatch, Flats (who consistently ranks among the top 500 players), voiced his opinions on the challenges facing the game and why Marvel Rivals seems to be dominating in the hero shooter genre. While there are numerous minor problems with Overwatch, one of the most significant concerns lies in its balance issue, which has sparked a kind of “identity crisis” for the game.

Stating that Overwatch is now a “fully developed game,” he pointed out the shift towards 5v5 matches, suggesting that developers prioritized hero balance as a result. However, this change has led several characters to lose their unique characteristics and essentially play in similar ways.

Overwatch heroes don’t have gameplay variety anymore

Speaking from his perspective as a tank player, Flats referred to the brawl tanks like Reinhardt, Orisa, Ramattra, and Mauga as “repetitions or duplicates of the same character.

In the original Overwatch, Flats was often referred to as “the Rein guy.” However, he expressed his disappointment with Reinhardt in Overwatch 2, stating that the character has lost its charm. According to him, the ability to deliver a powerful shatter and potentially win the game is no longer possible due to counters like Suzu or a lamp (apparently referring to specific characters or abilities in the game).

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Flats explained and asserted that tanks evolved into a repetitive pattern of attacking targets from short to mid-range distances, similar to mobile tanks such as Wrecking Ball, Doomfist, or Winston with significant disruption capabilities. Additionally, he mentioned that supports generally function as a mix of causing damage and providing healing.

Flats stated that things have become reversed, making each hero feel similar somehow. The distinctive qualities that initially made each character unique seem diminished or reduced now.

According to Flats, shifting the game to a 6v6 format might enhance it, but he stresses that it alone won’t rescue the game. He suggests that the game’s identity dilemma can only be resolved by undergoing significant transformations and redefining itself more fundamentally.

He remarked, “There are still some significant issues lingering, as ‘6v6’ isn’t the solution for this game, nor is fine-tuning ‘5v5’ without better balance. This game seems to be grappling with its identity…so perhaps the question becomes, how can Overwatch redefine itself?

Overwatch often introduces significant updates to the game, like new game modes or abilities for characters. However, some players think the development team should make more drastic changes, particularly when it comes to balancing heroes. He suspects this reluctance might be due to apprehension about potential backlash from the community.

According to Flats, they’re reluctant to venture into new ideas because they’re trying to please too many people. This results in a lack of cohesion and authenticity in their creations, which is the root of their issue regarding the game’s identity.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve switched from being an Overwatch streamer to delving into Marvel Rivals. This game is truly revolutionary, redefining the boundaries of what we know with its innovative team-up feature that sets it apart.

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2025-01-29 02:22