AfterOverwatch2’s latest hero, Hazard, received a mixed reception, Blizzard might want to take note of the likes ofMarvel Rivals, especially when it comes to some of its fan favorites like Jeff the Land Shark. Despite anticipation forOverwatch 2’s next new hero, the reveal of Hazard has been hit-and-miss among players, with responses varying from praise for the character’s backstory to others expressing more interest in the latest “Phreaks” group than Hazard himself. However, with players interested in the Phreaks and the different stories or perspectives they could add to the world ofOverwatch, Blizzard may have missed a trick focusing on just Hazard.
Yet whileOverwatch 2continues its trend of realistic heroes with grounded backstories, other games likeMarvel Rivalsare making the most of the possible characters it could add to its roster. Though Blizzard arguably has a better opportunity to get creative with its heroes,Marvel Rivalshas differentiated itselfwith characters through the likes of the two-person team of Cloak and Dagger, Doctor Strange and his in-game portals, or even the weirdness of Jeff the Land Shark. With players sharing their love of Jeff across social media, it seems that it could be time forOverwatch 2to think outside the box with its heroes.
Breaking Down What Went Wrong With Overwatch 2’s New Hero
Ultimately, the success of any new hero among players comes down to how they balance alongsideOverwatch 2’s existing gameplay and how their character fits in with the broader universe of the game. For instance, whileOverwatch 2’s newest hero has been positively received in terms of gameplay and story,Hazard’s design caused controversyand appeared to fall short of player expectations. In addition to other recently added heroes toOverwatch 2’s roster, it seems that players were expecting a less traditional hero and more creative ideas from Blizzard than just another human or omnic with a gun.
Remembering Hammond and Overwatch’s Wrecking Ball
Back in 2018,Overwatchcaused a stir among players after it introduced the hero Wrecking Ball, a hamster-controlled robot mecha that lived up to its name. With Winston as the only other animal hero,Wrecking Ball stands out amongOverwatch’sandOverwatch 2’s other heroes with its innovative momentum-based gameplay and unique characterization. While it may not offer the same in-depth backstory asOverwatch 2’s Hazard, Hammond the hamster and his Wrecking Ball demonstrate that both Blizzard and the broaderOverwatchseries have the potential for more intriguing heroes.
Marvel’s Rivals' Jeff the Land Shark Has Already Won Over Fans
Just as Wrecking Ball’s introduction toOverwatchshook up its player base,Marvel Rivalsdid much the same when it debuted Jeff the Land Shark earlier this year. While some players have criticized things like Jeff’s ultimate being potentially overpowered, this hasn’t stopped fans from sharing how much they love the Land Shark, highlighting endearing aspects of his character like his rendition ofMarvel Rivals' theme.
DespiteMarvel Rivalsother charactersremaining grounded and serious for the most part, the fans' response to Jeff suggests that games likeMarvel RivalsandOverwatch 2have the potential to be fun for players in unconventional ways.
Overwatch 2 Needs its Own Hero Like Jeff the Land Shark
With this in mind, after the responseOverwatch 2received with Hazard, Blizzard should take a step back for its next hero and consider ideas outside the box. As indicated by theresponses toMarvel Rivals' JeffandOverwatch 2’s original Hazard design, players are interested in more unusual and even downright weirder concepts for playable characters at this stage. Yet whileMarvel Rivalsis limited toMarvel’s existing range of characters,Overwatch 2could explore and expand upon ideas like Jeff the Land Shark for its next hero, especially given that Blizzard has the creative freedom to do whatever it likes within theOverwatchuniverse.
