It’s the Freakin’ Weekend! So What are You Playing?

Friday! Video games! Let’s talk!

I just finished an insanely busy week of school-related stuff, so I haven’t had time to play much of anything. I’ve mainly been jumping into the occasional Overwatch match in hopes of securing a few of the new Uprising event skins and poses. Sadly, I haven’t had much luck.

Things were on the up and up when I got the Blackwatch skin for McCree in my second loot box, but the 12 I’ve obtained since then have mostly been nothing but white and blue quality voice lines and sprays. I really just want the new Widowmaker and Genji skins, and the new D.Va selfie intro. Excitement level: zero.

I’ve already completed my 9 weekly wins with the PVE event, though it’s mostly been an exercise in frustration. Unlike the PVP side of Overwatch, the event’s temporary PVE mode pits four players against waves of enemies where you’ll prioritize teamwork to complete objects. It’s similar to the PVP stuff, securing checkpoints and defending a payload, but it requires a different approach–much like the transition from PVP to PVE in an MMO.

The PVE mode is broken down into two categories: one where your team is forced to use Torbjorn, Reinhardt, Tracer, and Mercy for story reasons, and another that lets you play the same map with any character on the roster. A major change from the PVP side is that anyone can resurrect their dead teammates now, which results in an immediate defeat if not done within a specific time frame. It’s also game over if all four players are dead simultaneously.

In the first mode, it’s important for Reinhardt to protect the team with his shield while Tracer picks apart enemies and Torbjorn assists with armor drops and keeping up his turret. Protecting Mercy is always a priority as well. However, most folks just run off and do whatever they want until everybody dies. I’ve had more luck winning this version of Uprising than the other, though, since groups always have a tank and healer.

That’s not always the case in the any-hero variant.

Widowmakers and Pharahs head to far-off corners where resurrection is nearly impossible, players pick tanks without protecting their team or the payload, and people still feel the need to venture off on their own and die thanks to a serious case of wanderlust.

Worst of all, there’s no way to change characters once the match starts. So when there’s one spot left on your team and you assume they’re going to fill a necessary role, but pick McCree, you’re essentially stuck fighting an uphill battle or outright abandoning the game in hopes of finding a smarter group.

I’m not a great Overwatch player by any means, but I have a general understanding of the importance of teamwork; protect the healer, shield the teammates, stay together, it’s not rocket science.

It hasn’t been all bad, really. Being forced to use characters I’m inexperienced with has been a blessing in disguise. Had it not been for the Uprising event, I would have avoided Torbjorn and his loveable turret altogether. Now he’s one of my favorites. Healing incompetent players has given me quite the crash course in Zenyatta 101, an appreciation for area-of-effect ultimates, and I’ve grown quite fond of Orisa’s tanking skills.

Outside of Overwatch, I’m hoping to finally put a stop to Calamity Ganon in Breath of the Wild. I have one Divine Beast left (the lizard) and I’m not quite sure where the game goes from there. If I’m left to my own devices, chances are I’ll pay Ganon a visit and roll the credits on (what I feel has been) the most enjoyable Zelda experience ever.

Then. THEN I can redirect my attention to Persona 5. I can’t wait.

What about you, folks? What are you getting into this weekend?