Summary
Generally speaking,Overwatch 2has a pretty diverse roster. There are currently 41 playable heroes inOverwatch 2, and each one boasts a distinct visual design and a swathe of unique abilities tailored to their respective roles. Though some ofOverwatch 2’s heroesaren’t used as much as others in competitive play, most of the game’s impressive roster is still deemed worthy by the fan-base, and the addition of new heroes every few months is paramount to keeping fans invested in the game.
At the end of August,Overwatch 2is set to receive its next Support hero, Juno, and following a brief trial weekend with her a little while ago, the fan-base is already divided on her value. While Juno lacks a significant form of self-healing and has no self-protection abilities, her high level of mobility can lead to her being one of the most satisfying healers to play as. And it’s this high level of mobility that should get Blizzard to rethink one of its most controversial hero types.
Overwatch 2’s Juno Should Mark a Turning Point for Flying Heroes
Overwatch 2’s Flying Heroes Are Some of the Most Annoying
Though there are only a fewflying heroes inOverwatch 2, they’ve often been cited as some of the most frustrating in the entire game. Damage heroes Pharah and Echo are the two biggest offenders, with their abilities allowing them to quickly take flight and dart around above the battlefield with ease. Both of these heroes pack a serious punch, and due to the high speed of their flight, they’re often some of the most difficult characters to take down, especially if a diligent healer is near them. The common strategy to take down flying enemies is to simply swap to a hero who uses hit-scan projectiles, though that doesn’t always work if the enemy team has characters who counter that approach.
But what makesOverwatch 2’s flying heroes even worse is that they don’t often feel all that great to control.Pharah, Echo, and Mercyare all considered flying heroes, but their abilities don’t actually allow them to take flight for very long. Instead, these heroes boost into the air and simply glide their way back down slowly, and then players have to wait a few seconds for their ability to cool down, making their flight mechanics feel rather restrictive.
Overwatch 2’s Junomarks an interesting shift for the game’s flying heroes. Unlike Pharah and Echo, Juno’s air boost is a horizontal one, meaning that she’s only able to fly in a straight line. Though Juno has a double-jump Passive ability, this horizontal boost ensures that Juno remains much closer to the ground than Pharah and Echo, making her easier to deal with while still offering the player plenty of freedom of movement. Still, while Juno is a step forward forOverwatch 2’s flying heroes, they still pale in comparison toMarvel Rivals'.
Marvel Rivals Shows Overwatch 2 How to Do Flying Heroes Right
ThoughMarvel Rivalsborrows more than its fair share fromOverwatch 2, there are a handful of things it arguably does better than its main source of inspiration. Flight is one such thing. InMarvel Rivals, characters like Iron Man and Storm are in a constant state of flight, allowing players to ascend and descend at will, with no cooldowns keeping them grounded for extended periods. This gives players complete freedom of movement, which leads to some satisfying moments of gameplay where the player needs to position themselves strategically.
To balance this,Marvel Rivalsmakes its flying heroes a bit slower than the rest of the roster. This makes it much easier for every other hero to aim and take down a flying character. It also helps that every hero has at least one attack that can target flying enemies. Even melee-focusedheroes like Black Panther and Magikhave powerful ranged attacks. It’s this balance thatOverwatch 2still needs to strive for.
Overwatch 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
