When I reviewed Overwatch 2 last October, there were two things I struggled with. Though the game was gorgeous and the gameplay as fun as ever, not much about Overwatch 2 seemed to differentiate it from its predecessor. To make matters worse, the one thing that did clearly separate it was Overwatch 2's shift away from the original's tone. Overwatch 2, with its sleek menus and battle pass system, didn't feel like the Overwatch I fell in love with, but rather a stylish first-person shooter eager to assimilate rather than celebrate the original's charm and sincerity. But with Season 4, all that could be changing.

After months of half-heartedly picking up and dropping the game I once cherished so dearly, I find myself growing more invested in Overwatch 2. After months of pestering the game's development team with questions like, "Can you explain how this new map/character will fit into the game's story or PvE?" I finally feel a bit satisfied not knowing what's next--though to be clear, I do maintain my belief that launching the game without its highly anticipated PvE component was a misstep. The reason for this is not because I'm suddenly on board with the sequel's new direction, but because I feel like after taking the game a bit too seriously, the team is ready to return to what it does best: Creating a hopeful world filled with characters you can't help but adore, and putting the community first.

The beacon of this effort might very well be the game's newest hero, Lifeweaver. Though I'd argue Ramattra could easily end up being the most narratively important addition to the Overwatch roster and that every new character is well-designed and fun to play, there is something uniquely comforting about Lifeweaver--something that makes him feel a bit like the heroes we first met back in 2016.