The Overwatch collection has fumbled the bag a number of instances since its 2016 debut, however one of the confounding issues developer Blizzard has achieved will not be lean into its storytelling prowess. Overwatch’s animated shorts have constantly supplied heartwarming, usually poignant tales that weave collectively its large solid of heroes, however we’ve by no means gotten a full-blown present out of it. Positive, we obtained the animated mini-series Overwatch: Genesis earlier this 12 months, however what these characters deserve is a full collection that tells a prolonged story on this world. Blizzard launched a brand new animated quick to commemorate new tank hero Mauga’s launch at first of season 8, and all I might take into consideration was how Blizzard and Netflix ought to have been cooking one thing up like this years in the past.
The quick is known as A Good Day and stars villains Reaper, Doomfist, Sombra, and Mauga as they infiltrate an enemy ship in what was purported to be a quiet heist. Sombra and Reaper function in stealth and shadow, in order that they have been definitely the appropriate folks for this job, however Mauga is a big, usually bombastic tank. So when he begins going loud, all the mission is put in jeopardy. Regardless of the difficulty he causes for the group, he manages to return by for them ultimately. I suppose that’s why Doomfist retains him round.
I actually loved seeing this facet of not solely Mauga, however Sombra and Reaper, as properly. We don’t get a ton of lore following Talon, the antagonistic group within the Overwatch universe, so we hardly ever see their crew dynamics—one thing that we get a ton of in terms of the titular crew. Mauga has been an particularly enigmatic a part of Talon, as his boisterous nature is so totally different from the broodier members of the group. After watching A Good Day, it appears he’s not a persona match for everybody, however now we all know he’s succesful, regardless of showing like a little bit of an oddball.
Take a look at the total quick beneath:
Not like different animated shorts, A Good Day makes use of a 2D artwork type evocative of a extra fashionable model of G.I. Joe as an alternative of the Pixar-style 3D animation seen in Sojourn’s Calling quick. In the event you’d requested me a number of years in the past, I’d’ve mentioned I needed a full-blown collection that’s animated like Blizzard’s 3D cinematics, however A Good Day and Genesis have greater than satisfied me an Overwatch collection might thrive in 2D animation. It’s clear the fabric and expertise are there, so I’m wondering what has saved Blizzard from capitalizing on it.
Overwatch leans on its animated shorts to inform unbelievable tales that merely can’t be instructed all through the course of its PvP gameplay. They’ve develop into an important a part of the franchise, a lot in order that their reveals are sometimes hyped-up and debuted at large occasions like BlizzCon. . Overwatch will not be the cultural juggernaut it as soon as was, however the League of Legends collection Arcane is proof that an ideal animated collection can convey new followers into the fold. A TV present can encourage fervor with a a lot shorter barrier to entry than the novels, comics, and quick tales Overwatch has used as its major automobile for storytelling. There have been rumors circulating about an Overwatch animated collection in improvement for years, but it surely’s unclear if that is nonetheless occurring, has been scrapped, or was referring to Overwatch: Genesis.
Perhaps I’m simply nonetheless bummed concerning the state of Overwatch 2’s story missions so I’m searching for one other automobile to observe this story unfold. Blizzard has gutted its initially promised PvE mode, and whereas the primary set of story missions have their moments, the studio hasn’t mentioned a phrase about when (or if) the following set of missions will come. From the sound of it, Blizzard goes to roll out story missions at a glacial tempo, in order an Overwatch lore sicko, I’m greedy at any straws I see for proof that the narrative nonetheless issues to the crew behind the sport..
I don’t wish to be too dismissive, as shorts like A Good Day and the comics, novels, and so on. are all high-quality, and have given me lots of backstory to chew on. However Overwatch 2’s story missions have clearly taken a backseat (regardless of being a promoting level of the sequel when it was first revealed in 2019) so it’d be nice to get extra content material that strikes Overwatch’s story ahead, moderately than it current in perpetual limbo because it has for seven years.
Anyway, I’m gonna go rewatch A Good Day and shout at my pc display about how Sombra’s authentic plan to flee the ship after the mission goes dangerous now not is smart after her rework.
