FPS fans who want a change of pace fromBlizzard’sOverwatchmight want to tryRiot Games' newest hero shooter. InValorant, gamers take on the role of Agents who need to either plant or defuse a Spike in various game maps. And thanks to unique weapons and special abilities,Valorantoffers a massively new experience to FPS fans who want a change of pace. After all,Valorantgives tactical hero shooters a sci-fi twist with their futuristic motif and power sets.
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In fact, some might argueValorant’s success started to shape the new shooter into a decentOverwatchcontender. However, just what doesValoranthave that might removeOverwatchfrom the hero shooter throne? And why wouldOverwatchstill wear the crown?
10Valorant Wins: Straightforward Premise
Just becauseValoranthas straightforward gameplay doesn’t mean it’s devoid of any story. In fact,Valoranttells its backstory within the game. In essence,Valorantplaces players in a near-future Earth where the “First Light” event has provided people with different superpowers. Unfortunately, this event led to a massive global upheaval, resulting in new governments and the establishment of Valorant, an organization with mysterious origins.
Interestingly, not much has been fully-fleshed out withinValorant’s lore given it’s still in its infancy. And while Riot teasedValorantwill get new story material soon, devs will likely remain to focus on fleshing out overall gameplay first. As such,new players interested in playingValorantwithout having to digest so much material could find it much easier to get into the game.
9Overwatch Is Better: Immersive Stories
Fans of other Blizzard games know the publisher for its rather immersive stories — andOverwatchis no different. The Hero shooter sets itself on Earth after the Omnic Crisis. In this event, sentient robotic Omnics would’ve ruled the world if it weren’t for the UN-backed Overwatch. Unfortunately, controversy pushed Overwatch to disband, opening Earth to various organizations interested in wreaking havoc.
Thanks to this signature Blizzard touch,Overwatchremains as one of the most immersive tactical shooters out there. Instead ofseparate hero storieslike in most other MOBAs,Overwatchhas both individual storylines and an overarching main plot. As such, new heroes come not just with new backstories but also something new to spice upOverwatchlore. For instance, outside Overwatch and Blackwatch exists other organizations such as the Shambali and the Talon — all of which have their own stake inOverwatch’s version of Earth.
8Valorant Wins: Simple, Flexible Agents
Thanks toValorant’s infancy, the game doesn’t offer a lot of Agents. As of writing, players can choose between 12 Agents. Each of these Agents can use whateverweapon players can purchasein the Buy Menu. However, players need to ensure their weapons of choice can supplement each Agent’s set of special abilities. Players need to consider how Agents work better with support roles, defensive roles, or even offensive roles when in a match.
Moreover, thanks to the small number of Agents (so far), players will be constantly forced to maximize their team’s efficiency with their current lineup. Additionally, players will be forced to master more than one Agent, given how there’s a high chance their teammates will choose their main. These elements encourage players to experiment with different Agents and adjust their playstyles accordingly.
7Overwatch Is Better: Diverse Hero Roster
There’s power in numbers. In terms of existing MOBA shooters,Overwatchprevails even in terms of Hero count. Moreover, each ofOverwatch’s 32 Heroesoffers something new to every lineup. Their abilities, when combined with both map setup and gameplay gimmicks, can offer hours' worth of fun for players.
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Fans ofOverwatchwill have to stick with this 32-Hero lineup. After all, Echo serves as the last Hero to be released prior to the wait forOverwatch 2. Thankfully, this means players no longer have to worry about constant changes in the meta. Moreover, 32 Heroes give players more than enough time to fiddle around with lineup combinations and ability experimentation.
6Valorant Wins: Familiar Mechanics
GivenValorant’s premise, a lot of players might compare it toCounter-Strike.However, instead of being a disadvantage, Riot Games may haveturned this familiarityinto a strength. Moreover, FPS players who want an alternativeCounter-Strikeexperience can head toValorant.After all, the game adds superpowers to the already-fun premise of planting/defusing a bomb.
What’s more interesting is that each ofValorant’s maps actively constrains players. As such, these maps offer just enough to encourage exploration. Secondly, these maps also encourage using their powers in creative ways. In addition,Valorant’s physics deliberately allows players to use projectiles and abilities to pass through walls. This factor allows abilities to even affect enemies past barriers. As such, Agent powers can be used not just inside firefights, but to also scout and prepare for enemy assaults.
5Overwatch Is Better: Evolving Gameplay
Since its 2015 release,Overwatchprovided new gameplay options to players outside of new Heroes and skins. For instance, outside HP and Armor, a lot ofOverwatchHeroes also have Shield mechanics. Interestingly, these Shields interact differently with Hero abilities. Moreover, the existence of multiple game modes and game maps constantly force players to adjust their playstyles according to what the mode and the team required.
Additionally, it’s this constantly-evolving gameplay that madeOverwatchperfect for esports. Thanks to Overwatch League, players now gather in teams in order to compete and prove their superiority in terms of Hero usage and battle tactics.
4Valorant Wins: Tactical Potential
Thanks toValorant’s straightforward premise, a lot of matches leave players to come up with different approaches to secure the victory. In fact, some players may realize that every Agent has different approaches from both an offensive and defensive manner. Moreover, thanks to flexible and “limited” Agent abilities, players need to decide which assets they need for any particular time in the match.
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All of these multi-layered plans work wellin very straightforward yet dynamic maps. As such, there’s a ton of room for experimentation and enjoyment on the part of players. Players are free to be just as reckless or just as tactical and still encounter enemies in places they least expect.
3Overwatch Is Better: Trendsetter, Trailblazer
Granted, a lot FPS games nowadays provide their own unique gimmicks to set them apart from others. However, one might argue that despite the existence of Hero-based shooters, it’sOverwatchthat set the trend in the first place. As such, Blizzard deserves credit for coming up with such a concept that ended up appealing to a huge player base.
Moreover, their consideration of including unique stories that weaved into their updates and releases changed the perception of players towards MOBA-like games. For instance, players nowadays seem more receptive of how MOBA-like games tackle story and lore.
2Valorant Wins: Room For Updates
Interestingly,Valorantplayers have a lot of things to look forward to given the game’s still in its early stages. For instance, aside from the upcoming Killjoy (the 12th Agent),Valorantseems to tease a lot more buffs, nerfs, and changes to its overall meta. Thanks to its straightforward gameplay, players won’t have that much of a hard time training and testing these adjustments.
Moreover,Valorantseems to be taking it slow and easy when it comes to its updates. As such, players won’t be easily overwhelmed when it comes to adjusting to these changes.
1Overwatch Is Better: Up For A Sequel
One might argue that a great way of identifying a great game is if it’s getting a sequel. And interestingly, Blizzard teasedOverwatch 2with a 2020 release. Set in the near future afterOverwatch, the sequel boastsnot just updated visualsbut also new co-op missions and teased better team-versus-team games.
Moreover, the sequel teases a new mode, Push, which forces teams to fight for control over a robot and push it to their base as far as possible. Additionally,Overwatch 2gets replayable Hero missions and new Story missions to flesh out the franchise’s story.
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