The latest hero of Overwatch is Brigitte, Torbjörn’s daughter. Her release has sparked many reactions, including from Paladins chief Stew Chisam. He points out many similarities between Brigitte and the Paladins champion Ash – with a wink.
When Paladins was released in 2016, it faced frequent criticism for being just a copy of Blizzard’s hero shooter Overwatch. It didn’t help that the developers emphasized several times that the game was already in development before Overwatch was even announced.
And indeed, many of the characters resembled the hero concepts from Overwatch. Ruckus operates a mech similar to D.Va; Bomb King feels like an evolution of Junkrat, and Fernando could have been modeled after Reinhardt.
Side swipe from HiRez: Did Blizzard copy?
With Brigitte’s appearance in the hero roster of Overwatch, Paladins chief Stew Chisam saw an opportunity to turn the tables. He tweeted an image comparing the two women side by side, noting their appearances and abilities.
He commented: “If I were to point out the similarities between these two characters, would I be the pot calling the kettle black, or the kettle calling the pot black? This will keep me up tonight.”
In German, one might say: “Am I then a donkey calling another donkey long-eared?”
His words show that he seems to take it more with humor than to actually make an accusation against Blizzard. Nonetheless, it is a welcome opportunity for HiRez to hit Blizzard with its own weapons.
Quick poll: If I happened to notice and point out any similarities between these two characters, would that make me the Pot calling the Kettle black, or the Kettle calling the Pot black? This will keep me up tonight unless I get a clear answer. pic.twitter.com/rt9j3NT0S0
— HiRezStew (@schisam) March 1, 2018
Brigitte vs Ash – who copies whom?
Looking at the image, one immediately notices visual similarities. Although Ash is a bit leaner in build and the head doesn’t quite match, the armor and details are very similar.
There are also overlap in the skills. Both women have a shield they can deploy, can execute a charge, and can reform and bolster their team.
Nevertheless, Ash is a tank that enters battle with a lot of health points, whereas Brigitte specializes in healing and support. And Brigitte is not a new name – she already appeared in a comic alongside Reinhardt in 2016.
