Category: Computer

If you follow gaming at all, the launch of Overwatch has been inescapable.  When beloved developer Blizzard launches their first new IP in almost two decades people take notice.  Heck, even I preordered, and I am not a big fan of preordering unless reviews are already out.  So with that much excitement how did Blizzard’s servers hold up?  Pretty good as far as I can tell.  I heard there was some trouble initially with the first wave of players, but when I got on around 9PM Pacific Standard Time things were running smoothly.

As far as the game goes, I didn’t notice anything different from the Beta, it is still a team based shooter where you either defend or try and capture objectives.  The fun comes in trying all the different crazy characters and trying to figure out how best to use their abilities to complete your objectives.  I still think it is a little over priced, but obviously that didn’t stop me from putting my money down (Yay birthday money!), and Blizzard is known for supporting their games, so I would be shocked if a few more modes don’t show up shortly.  My guess is King of the Hill is the first one to get added.

If you get the game look up Shmee on Xbox Live and maybe we will play a round or two together.  If the servers survived day one, I am assuming that they will stay stable for a while.  That is unless some hacker group decided to spoil everyone’s fun.  Jerks.

Far Harbor is the third piece of DLC for Fallout 4, and it is the best so far.  Generally when RPG’s offer DLC I always pony up the ones that offer new areas to explore, so if Fallout 4’s season pass hadn’t only been $5 more than just Far Harbor alone, this is the one I would have purchased.  Far Harbor is a large new map with new creatures and loot, and better yet, the story is interesting and lets you make meaningful choices.

Really Far Harbor should have been named Valentine Harbor since the main story revolves around synths, and one synth in particular, Nick Valentine.  Technically you can play Far Harbor without Nick, though you would be missing a lot of the story, or at least Nick’s input on things that involve him.  Once you complete Far Harbor’s main quest feel free to go back and get your companion of choice which in my case is a giant laser murder bot named Ada.  It might also be handy to cash in all of those fusion cores you have been squirreling away and take your best suit of power armor with you since there is radiation everywhere.  It is like a well forested Glowing Sea.

Far Harbor is more than just ‘DLC’.  It is a true expansion to Fallout 4, and if you are wanting to play more Fallout it is well worth a purchase.  If you are kind of Fallout 4’ed out, Far Harbor doesn’t really change up the experience all that much, so you can probably skip it.  Though having a story with real choices is definitely appreciated, and it shows that Bethesda does listen to their fans.  I am hoping for more DLC packs like this, and less like Wasteland Workshop which was so piddling it wasn’t worth talking about.

Like just about everyone else this weekend I played a little of the Overwatch beta, and it was a ton of fun.  That being said I am still a little hesitant about this title.  Why?  It is multiplayer only and there isn’t a huge verity of game modes.  I feel like I just need something else to feel better about dropping $60 on this game.  Maybe if I was getting the PC version for $40 I could better justify it, but $60 for a Team Fortress 2 clone?  That is hard to pull the trigger on.  Especially since TF2 is free.

Should I feel this way though?  I mean Blizzard has done an amazing job with this game, and it is so well balanced and smooth it is a joy to play.  Not only that if you are like me and not great at competitive shooters there are so many hero types that you can find one that you are good with and be a help to your team.  Building turrets, healing players, handing out armor, or just being a big guy and absorbing bullets.  So you know TF2, but a little different.

I think Overwatch lists that there are like five game modes, but they all are pretty much go and either defend a location or attack a location.  It is just that sometimes you have to escort the location around.  Not that I am complaining too much since that is fun, I just wish that there was something else.  Like the single-player/co-op form Battleborn.  If I could somehow merge Battleborn with Overwatch I think I would have created the greatest game of all time, but I can’t.

Overwatch is a lot of fun, and it is polished to perfection.  Which I think should be enough, but I still find myself wanting more.  I guess we gamers are spoiled these days, but I want what I want, and I want more.