Summary
AnOverwatchfan has created a concept reimagining the game as if it had been released in the late 2000s.Overwatchwas released in 2016 and became a huge success that greatly impacted first-person shooter games, getting the sequelOverwatch 2in 2022.
With the release ofOverwatch, Blizzard presented players with a game highly focused on teamwork, choosing from a cast of characters rich in abilities and stories. Blizzard’s hero shooter became a big hit among players and critics, withOverwatchwinning The Game Awards in 2016, earning the coveted Game of the Year award, and getting other accolades at events such as BAFTA 2017.Overwatchlaid the foundations that would be followed byOverwatch 2, but one inventive fan imagined a quite nostalgic and different origin for the first game in the series.
Reddit user jafdesign shared a series of screenshots showing what it would have been like ifOverwatchhad been released in the late 2000s. Named “Overwatch: Beginnings,” the title screen shows the old Microsoft logo, while the mouse pointer is customized, something characteristic ofshooter games released in the 2000s. The fan draws attention to their project for its choice of fonts and interface design, featuring menus and buttons with a social function, different game modes, a player profile, hero selection, loading, and in-match screens.
Overwatch Concept Brings Back the Nostalgia of 2000s Shooters
TheOverwatch 2community reacted with much praise for the work of the OP, who used Figma software to create the interface, and Photoshop to manipulate the images. They highlighted how the fan successfully managed to evoke the feel of 2000s shooters. Other comments noted how the concept reminded them of games likeWarframein its early years,Digimon Rumble Arena, andUnreal Tournament. They also said that if it had been released in the 2000s,Overwatchwould definitely have a campaign,something that doesn’t exist inOverwatch 2either.
With the release of the anticipatedOverwatchsequel, Blizzard made several changes to the gameplay and visuals of the game, butcertainOverwatch 2visual tweaks displeased the community. As a result, someOverwatch 2players lamented the loss of features such as old menu animations. Others have shown their creativity like jafdesign did, sharing ideas such as end-of-match screens and other creative kinds of interfaces.Overwatch 2doesn’t have unlockable menu screens, but with Blizzard providing support through frequent updates, players wait to see if this type of feature will eventually be added to the game in a patch, opening the door for more nostalgic interfaces.
Overwatch
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.
