March 19, 2024

 

I’ve had sufficient time to sink my teeth into the meat of both Gearbox’s Battleborn and Blizzard’s Overwatch. The two titles have been, in a way, pitted against one another by gamers while still being two completely different games. On the surface, they share a few similarities but I can’t say one is objectively better than they other. They’re different, and different is good.

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Battleborn brings both a campaign and three multiplayer game modes to the table. The campaign is familiar to anyone who’s played Borderlands with fairly linear missions and mini and main bosses to take out along the way, while multiplayer often takes the feel of a classic MOBA with lanes to push, creeps to farm, and roles for everyone to play. Not every character is unlocked immediately but you can unlock every one just by completing their respective challenges or missions and while each fits a role, most are versatile enough to play how you want. This is due to the Helix leveling system. Just like other MOBAs, your character starts at level 1 each match and gains a new ability each time you level. Battleborn is unique because it gives you a choice. Do you want a scope to hit targets at longer range or a red do sight so you can move faster while you aim? Do you want your axe to explode on impact or stick in the ground for an area of effect attack? It’s entirely up to you and how you want to play. Battleborn is moderately paced and both campaign and multiplayer require some in-depth strategy in coordination.

Overwatch goes with a strictly multiplayer experience, but isn’t a MOBA like Battleborn. This game is a straight up, objective based shooter with no bots, creeps, or lanes. All characters and their abilities are available to you immediately and the only unlocks are cosmetic and vanity items. The thing Overwatch excels at is balance. No character feels overpowered or under-powered and success is determined largely by how well a team works together and how skilled each player on a team is with their character. Overwatch moves at light speed compared to Battleborn with maps being much more linear, objectives being simply escorts or capture points similar to Team Fortress 2, and the ability to switch characters every time you respawn. Matches are quick battles of tug-o-war with attacking and defending teams pushing back and forth to control areas around the objectives. Overwatch is intense and that translates into sheer fun, which I think gives it the leg up on Battleborn.

Again, neither game is bad, only different. They definitely freshen up the FPS genre with new takes on character and level design and by borrowing elements from MOBAs and RPGs. IN my honest opinion, try both and don’t listen to anyone else until you have. You can really only experience these two titles, and what each has to offer, by diving straight in. Both are available now, so get out there and play.