Overwatch is getting a “Free-for-All” mode. But does this even fit Blizzard’s hero shooter? We tried it out!
A few days ago, the PTR of Overwatch version 1.14 went live and introduced two game modes that no one expected: Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch.
But do these modes really fit Overwatch and are they fun? We jumped onto the PTR and played a few rounds. We reveal the results here.
Mindless Shooting is also Fun in Overwatch
Although Overwatch is quite a colorful and fast-paced game, strategy and teamwork are usually in the foreground. If someone just wants to “shoot a bit”, they rarely get their money’s worth in Overwatch. However, the Deathmatch mode could change that.
The new map, Château Guillard, is the perfect playground. There are numerous corridors, multiple levels, jump pads for quick movement, and plenty of pits that can quickly become death traps. Particularly less popular heroes (like Junkrat and Roadhog) excel on this map. A well-placed mine or the right hook can swiftly send opponents off the map.
Shooter veterans might positively reminisce about Unreal Tournament on this map. Though with slightly less blood, but better graphics.
Few moments are as satisfying as jumping into a skirmish of four players and wiping them all out with your ultimate.
No matter how you look at it: Deathmatch is quick and it’s really fun to carelessly throw yourself into a group of enemies who are all also hostile.
Is it tactically challenging? Definitely not. Is it fun? Absolutely!
Mercy can Steal Kills from Enemies!
For those who don’t want to completely abandon tactics and teamwork, there’s Team Deathmatch, where 6vs6 is played. It’s still chaotic, but communication is important, as each death brings the opposing team closer to victory.
Particularly interesting are the small details in this mode. Typically, a match lasts until one side accumulates 30 kills. However, it can take longer, as a resurrection by Mercy takes kills away from the opposing team! So if Mercy resurrects 5 players, 5 victory points are deducted from the opponents.
But is this really a smart idea? At first glance, it seemed that having a Mercy was almost mandatory – stealing up to one-sixth of the victory points sounds like it could be the most powerful ability in this mode.
In summary, the Deathmatch modes are probably not something that will keep players glued to Overwatch for weeks. But when you’re not feeling up for the effort of a competitive match, this is the perfect way to let off some steam – and that’s exactly what these modes were designed for.
Which heroes are the most popular in Overwatch has recently been revealed by Jeff Kaplan.
