Battleborn or Overwatch? It just might be the toughest decision gamers make this May. Both games are character-focused first-person shooters. Both put an emphasis on online multiplayer. And both come from critically acclaimed development studios.
On the surface, the games seem awfully similar. Ever since the reveal of Overwatch, gamers have been making the comparison between the two titles. Being released in the same month makes separating the two even more difficult. But while they share a number of similarities, they are two completely different games for different types of players.
How different, you ask? Let us explain. Over the next 1,300 words we will dive into some of the key similarities and differences between Overwatch and Battleborn. That way if you can only pick one this month, you'll have a better understanding of which game is right for you. Ready? Let's begin.
Same: A Diverse Roster Of Heroes
Overwatch and Battleborn both present a roster of more than 20 unique heroes to choose from. It's here where the similarity between the two titles is most readily apparent. The two games are among the first in a new genre of games called "hero shooters," where instead of playing a custom-made character or faceless grunt, players embody a number of unique personalities, each with different combat roles.
And Overwatch and Battleborn's characters have plenty of personality. There is a hero for every type of player. For the player who wants to dish out some damage, there is Reaper in Overwatch and Whiskey Foxtrot in Battleborn. For those who would rather support their teammates than lead the charge, there's the fungus ninja Miko in Battleborn and the guardian angel Mercy in Overwatch. Prefer to wade into the fray without having to worry about ducking behind cover? Tanks like Reinhardt in Overwatch and Boldur in Battleborn will get the job done.
You get the idea. The personalities of each unique character are what help make each match entertaining, regardless of which game you are playing. Without them, the two games would simply be another shooter in an already crowded genre.
Different: Tone And Setting
Though each shooter features a large pool of characters to choose from, the tone of each game is vastly different. Overwatch's tone is one of optimism. Taking place in a not-so-distant future where technology has helped solve many of humanity's problems, Overwatch presents a team of stalwart heroes looking to defend the planet from those who would do it harm. Blizzard's first FPS is bright, colorful and cheerful, even with characters like Roadhog and Reaper represented.
Battleborn is in some ways similar. In Gearbox's latest, a team of heroes have assembled from across the universe to defend the last star against an evil threat. Gearbox is known for its humor, and that more than anything else helps set Battleborn apart from other shooters on the market, including Overwatch. It's funny and quirky in a way that is rarely seen, which makes listening to the various characters interact with one another all the more entertaining.
Same: Emphasis On Online Multiplayer
Shooters have increasingly become known for online multiplayer, and Battleborn and Overwatch are no different in that regard. The two games focus heavily on player vs. player battles across various game types and maps. Being hero shooters, each game requires teamwork if players want to emerge victorious. A balanced team of tanks, healers and damage dealers is important to finding success on the online battlefield, regardless of which game you're playing.
Different: Campaign
That being said, Battleborn does feature a story mode as well. The game includes eight story missions (plus a prologue) that can either be played solo or with up to four friends. Each mission takes players to a new planet, where they'll have to fight waves of enemies, escort important NPC characters and battle bosses in order to save the solar system.
It's a far cry from Overwatch, which doesn't feature any kind of story mode and only allows for bot battles against AI opponents outside of traditional multiplayer.
Different: Game Types
When comparing the online multiplayer elements of each shooter, perhaps the most significant way to differentiate between the two are the various modes available.
In Overwatch, the game type is determined by what map players are fighting on. Some levels require one team to capture a certain location while the other team must defend it. Other maps have both teams fighting for the same capture point, while other maps task a team with escorting a cart across the level while the opposing team seeks to stop them. Sometimes it's a combination of multiple objectives. In this regard it's easy to compare Overwatch to a multiplayer shooter like Team Fortress 2.
Battleborn, on the other hand, features three distinct game types. The first, Capture, isn't so different from Overwatch and many other multiplayer shooters. There are three control points players must battle over, with each point controlled awarding more points toward a team's score. Control the most points for the longest amount of time and you win.
Battleborn's two other modes draw inspiration more from MOBAs like League of Legends or Blizzard's own Heroes of the Storm than they do other shooters. In the Incursion game type, players must push alongside minions and teammates to assault two shielded enemy sentry drones, which essentially serve as bases that can shoot back. The team that defeats both drones wins.
In the Meltdown game type, players must escort their team's minions into furnaces. The more minions that make it into the incinerator, the more points your team scores. The two modes are both unique, even if players who've played a MOBA before will likely notice many of the similarities.
Same: Big Name Studios
It's impossible to look at Overwatch and Battleborn without looking at the studios behind them. They are both two new shooter IPs from well-known developers. Behind Battleborn is Gearbox, the developer of Borderlands. While Gearbox has had a few stinkers over the years (Duke Nukem Forever and Aliens: Colonial Marines), Battleborn is clearly a labor of love. The studio could have taken the easy path and simply developed another Borderlands, but instead it decided to push the envelope and come up with something new for the genre.
Blizzard, the studio behind Overwatch, needs no introduction. It is one of the most storied developers in the business and the minds behind iconic gaming franchises like Warcraft, Diablo and Starcraft. Overwatch will be its first FPS, and from what we've played so far the studio has knocked it out of the park.
Different: Progression
Leveling up and unlocking new content is common in most shooters nowadays, and Overwatch and Battleborn are no different in that regard. But that doesn't mean they don't approach progression very differently.
Overwatch gives players access to the game's entire roster of heroes (and all their abilities) from the get-go, no unlocking required. Progression comes in the form of player ranks and various unlockables that come via loot crates. Loot crates are gained upon leveling up or can be bought with credits earned in-game (or with real money if you prefer). These crates contain a number of different cosmetic items, ranging from new skins for characters to new taunts and player icons.
Progress in Battleborn comes much differently, and in a number of different ways. For starters, players will level up any given hero over the course of a mission or match, all the way up to level 10. With each level up comes the opportunity for players to augment their hero's various abilities. This level is reset at the end of said match or mission. Playing a certain character will increase their character rank, which unlocks new skins and taunts for that character. There is also player rank, and overall rank that increases simply from playing the game. Higher player ranks are required to unlock some of the game's heroes, though most heroes can also be unlocked by completing various challenges as well.
Unlike Overwatch's loot system, Battleborn's has a significant effect on gameplay. By buying loot packs with in-game money or real cash, players will acquire items that provide passive bonuses when activated in battle. This gives players even more customization over how they want to build any given hero, something that's not possible in Overwatch.
Conclusion
Despite a few similarities on the surface, Battleborn and Overwatch are two entirely different gameplay experiences. One doubles down on a tried-and-true online multiplayer formula while adding a twist in the form of a diverse cast of characters, while the other merges elements of the shooter genre with that of MOBAs and cooperative shooters.
Just because the two games are different doesn't mean gamers can't enjoy both. If, however, you can only choose one, you hopefully will now have a better understanding of what separates two of 2016's biggest games.
