Overwatch Switch Review

Cheers love, Overwatch on Switch is here

Overwatch is finally on the Nintendo Switch and it feels right at home. The characters and gameplay have always felt like a Nintendo game to me. Overwatch on the Switch is a give and take with a lower frame rate compared to the other consoles, but the ability to play on the go. For some this may be a deal breaker I understand that, but if the Switch is the only console you have Overwatch is much welcomed where shooters are in short supply.

Gameplay

From the moment I played Overwatch it felt like a Nintendo shooter to me. Over the top characters with unique play styles makes Overwatch the Smash Bros of shooters in my eyes. Some characters have that 90’s shooter vibe allowing you to quickly jump in without an massive learning curve. The deeper you dive into this game the more you see the depth that each character brings and how it’s important to use their strengths in conjunction with your teammates. As a Tracer main my objective isn’t kills, it is to flank and annoy. Her speed allows her to quickly get behind the other team pulling their attention from the objective. My goal as Tracer is to frustrate my opponents freeing up my teammates to play the objective. Once you understand your character’s role you can really have some fun. This game is about teamwork and competition, but is designed so well that you can jump in and casually play if that’s what you enjoy.

Graphics and sound

Running at 30 FPS the game still feels smooth and I haven’t noticed any frame rate issues. If you’ve played the other versions you will notice textures missing and the game doesn’t look good, but I never felt that it hindered the experience. I was impressed by some of the lighting effects that were still in the game as I watched shadows dance over Tracer’s guns. Playing this game handheld looks and runs better than I expected, it’s not my preferred way to play, but I was surprised by the smoothness. The short throw of the Joycon sticks take some getting used to when playing shooters. While in handheld I plugged in my Astro A40’s and couldn’t believe how immersed I was. This game sounds amazing, from gunfire to the rumble of each step from D.Va’s mech. Your character will even talk a little trash to you if you do something dumb. I fell off the stage and Tracer said “well that just happened.” It is worth saying that I lean towards seeing great games on the Switch regardless of graphical fidelity. If graphics and frame rate are really important to you Overwatch on the Switch may disappoint.