Overwatch: Classic has me reckoning with the fact that OG Overwatch kind of sucks, but also that Blizzard could learn a few lessons from it

GamesFPSOverwatch: Classic has me reckoning with the fact that OG Overwatch kind of sucks, but also that Blizzard could learn a few lessons from itWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Blizzard)

Tracer�s Overwatch

But then I get into a match where I’m the Roadhog or the Mei and the quirks of old Overwatch become a reminder of what it was like before rigorous balance changes snuffed out most of its charm.

Esports writer and shitposterBonnie Qusaid it best: “If they released OW: Classic to make us realize how much better we have it now, it lowkey worked.” This was my exact thought while playing Roadhog and getting hit with every type of bullet in the game just trying to catch someone with his hook. It doesn’t matter if you’re a tank, every hero explodes as soon as a team sets their sights on them. Overwatch 2 can feel oppressive as a support, but the complete lack of burst healing and life-saving abilities in Overwatch: Classic makes everyone surprisingly fragile.

When you don’t have heroes flying and sliding around like in Overwatch 2, everything just takes longer.

And the lack of mobility across the roster slows the pace of the game down to a crawl. When you don’t have heroes flying and sliding around like in Overwatch 2, everything just takes longer. But if you step out of cover too long, you’re toast. Timing your engagements is significantly more important in Overwatch: Classic because punishment for mistakes is so swift, which means if you watch these matches from a bird’s-eye-view, the heroes move like chess pieces. As Roadhog, I had to mentally go through a checklist of things that would kill me before making a move. You can imagine how hard that is when there are six heroes to keep track of, each with cooldowns I definitely don’t remember anymore.

Part of me thinks that the MOBA-like complexity Overwatch used to have is kind of beautiful. There’s still something deeply satisfying about playing Mercy and swooping in to resurrect three of your teammates while the enemies are busy fleeing from your Mei’s mini snowstorm. Or being the Zarya who knows exactly when to barrier her co-tank from certain death to supercharge her gun and melt the entire enemy team. Every little decision can lead to a big impact capable of turning the whole match around.

Then you screw one of those decisions up and watch helplessly as the enemy team takes turns shoveling dirt over your corpse. Overwatch: Classic’s rigid, rock-paper-scissors interactions are why Blizzard killed the original game and replaced it with a faster, smoother sequel. Simple things, like letting Roadhog move and heal himself whenever or giving Mercy the option to cut her flight short and slingshot in a different direction, make Overwatch 2 a significantly more intuitive game to play.

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

Overwatch: Classic can be a nightmarish reminder of what we used to have.

The cost, of course, is losing how distinct Overwatch used to be. You don’t get a hero like D.Va with an ability that deletes projectiles out of the air in a game where just shooting at your enemy first would solve the problem faster. Overwatch had to be a tactical FPS first so Overwatch 2 could soften those ideas for players who can’t be bothered to study every ability interaction to have fun. I think Overwatch 2 went too far, particularly with reworks to heroes likeSombraand new modes like Clash, but I can see how we got here. Overwatch 2 is simply an easier game to jump into and play and not have to worry about following every rule.

But I kind of miss some of those rules now that I’ve played Overwatch: Classic. I miss having powerful ultimates up more than twice a match; I miss thinking it’s all over a second before your Mercy revives your team for one more push; I miss having more than one tank on my side. Overwatch: Classic can be a nightmarish reminder of what we used to have, but it’s also a great example of what Overwatch 2 has been missing for the last two years, and I hope Blizzard is taking notes.

TOPICSActivision BlizzardBlizzard Entertainment

TOPICS

PRODUCTSOverwatch 2Overwatch

PRODUCTS

More about fpsTeam Fortress 2 just had the single biggest trade in its history, with ‘the absolute best hat you can get’ going for around $40KThe most important tool in Remedy’s new co-op FPS is the shower: ‘Saving water is essential’LatestThe Last of Us season 2 trailer is a brief look at a story you should probably just play yourself in AprilSee more latest►

More about fps

Team Fortress 2 just had the single biggest trade in its history, with ‘the absolute best hat you can get’ going for around $40KThe most important tool in Remedy’s new co-op FPS is the shower: ‘Saving water is essential’

Money money money.

Team Fortress 2 just had the single biggest trade in its history, with ‘the absolute best hat you can get’ going for around $40K

FBC: Firebreak

The most important tool in Remedy’s new co-op FPS is the shower: ‘Saving water is essential’

LatestThe Last of Us season 2 trailer is a brief look at a story you should probably just play yourself in AprilSee more latest►

Latest

The Last of Us season 2 trailer is a brief look at a story you should probably just play yourself in April

the last of us season 2 trailer

The Last of Us season 2 trailer is a brief look at a story you should probably just play yourself in April

See more latest►

Most Popular

The Witcher 3’s now 2-year-old bonus quest is our first taste of the ‘vibe’ CD Projekt is going for in The Witcher 4

2024 was the year updates for old games beat out all the new ones for me

Train like you game with this adventure-inspired workout

‘It’s simply impossible to make a difficulty level that’s just right for all players’: How Final Fantasy 14’s lead battle designer has been playing a precarious balancing game for Dawntrail’s dungeons and raids

Please join me in getting super excited for all the cool looking survival games coming in 2025 (and beyond)

Competitive shooters are at a crucial crossroads in 2025: ‘sweaty’ teamplay vs. casual fun

Call of Duty’s $28 Squid Game skins are the perfect crossover for our capitalist dystopia, and Activision knows exactly what it’s doing

These are the 14 biggest upcoming RPGs of 2025—get ready for another amazing year for the genre

Five new Steam games you probably missed (January 6, 2025)

I’ve seen enough: No more forcing singleplayer studios to make mediocre live service games

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

A bunch of the best Steam Deck accessories on a blue background.

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here review

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

4Ikea Utespelare desk review

Ikea Utespelare desk review

5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals