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A year later, how does Overwatch compare to Team Fortress 2?

ZugZug123

Member
I moved from TF2 to OW after playing it since release. While I do enjoy OW and play it a lot, the lack of community servers where you can goof w/ 32 of 24 players means I will never go over the 3k hours I have on TF2 .
 
"as popular as it is" =/= popular

How many gaffers do you think still play TF2?

A number still, I would imagine. But how is that relevant? The fact that you acknowledge that TF2 is "as popular as it is" regardless of degree means that people think about it, and talk about it. Maybe not as much on GAF but GAF is not the whole world, or even the industry. The fact that it is still the 4th most played game in Steam means that people STILL think and talk about it, and has hardly faded from gamers' consciousness. Which basically contradicts your first post. And that's all I was pointing out in my post.
 

jwhit28

Member
The thread with that girl getting harassed in voice chat made me think of this but something Overwatch can't really duplicate that TF2 had is the community built around private servers. Maybe Blizzard can add a communities option similar to how MK8 private tournaments work without the time limit and allow a certain number of people to be admins and kick troublemakers.
 
Doesn't seem to have effected player counts much at all for TF2. In terms of of people talking about the games, TF2 is just another game that's getting old and isn't in the spotlight. Just happens.
 

Bluth54

Member
IMO, the core TF2 game is still amazing. It's probably one of my most played games, ever. It's just bloated with too many half-baked ideas and it suffers from serious jank. Valve looked like they were turning that around in 2015 but they've been quiet for a while now. But if you can look past that (and I can, most of the time) then there's really a lot of fun to be had. It's the ultimate casual shooter, for me.

Valve's Dave Riller did talk about the direction they're planning on taking TF2 in upcoming Pyro/Jungle update (which will likely ship either in June or July going off the past history of major updates for the game) in a video interview.

They're planning on shipping a new weapon pack for the Pyro that changes the class in some way, a game rebalance with competitive in mind, improvements to competitive matchmaking (including an ELO system and placement matches), a new Jungle themed map by Valve, changes to the campaign system where you get to work towards rewards and a new 5 minute movie.

If they can pull off everything I think it's going to be a pretty good update.
 

Ploid 3.0

Member
This thread just made me realize that my nephew will be able to play TF2 insanely well now that I'm giving him my old PC (Overwatch addict that's getting tired of it, console gaming yearly fee for MP). The game is free.
 
I come to TF2 from time to time (been playing 2fort this week).

Can't stand the toxicity OW players.

Also, one single character from TF2 has tons more personality and charm than all of OW.

There, I said it, Maggots.

EC78BE5F25085DBAF25028851A247319BC87782D
 
IMO, Overwatch's cast pales In comparison to TF2's. OW has some of the least likeable characters in recent gaming memory. There are some gems in the rough, like roadhog, ana and zenyatta, but the vast majority are terribly boring at best (pharah, genji, mercy) and flat-out unbearable at worst (tracer, lucio, d.va).

I feel the TF2 cast got flanderized a bit in later comics and such, but on the whole they have more character in their 18 pinky toes than the OW cast has in their collective blob of Mickey Mouse-scented flesh.
 
Valve's Dave Riller did talk about the direction they're planning on taking TF2 in upcoming Pyro/Jungle update (which will likely ship either in June or July going off the past history of major updates for the game) in a video interview.

They're planning on shipping a new weapon pack for the Pyro that changes the class in some way, a game rebalance with competitive in mind, improvements to competitive matchmaking (including an ELO system and placement matches), a new Jungle themed map by Valve, changes to the campaign system where you get to work towards rewards and a new 5 minute movie.

If they can pull off everything I think it's going to be a pretty good update.

Thanks for sharing the interview. Hadn't seen that.

I'm sure they're always working on something, and I'm excited for the Pyro + jungle updates and rebalancing, but Valve's been a little too slow lately. Also competitive doesn't really interest me; I'm more interested in how they answer complaints to casual mode/community servers.
 

royox

Member
I have both installed and I play them for different reasons. Tf2 when I'm In the mood for some "high skilled teamplay shooter", OW when I just want to chill. TF2's skill ceiling puts OW's in total shame.

I read people hating TF2's different weapons and equipment...I don't get it, I love having different loadouts for every character usefull for diferent modes or situations. Sniper with bow will always be my favourite class on "push the bomb" maps.
 

Vintage

Member
What I like in Overwatch, but not in TF2:

It's solid. Everything is tested thoroughly, gameplay map, modes, nothing breaks almost ever, even with crazy combinations of abilities it's still rock solid on every corner. In comparison, TF2 feels like half-assed device that's hold up by many thin strings all tangled up together and some duct tape.

What I like in TF2, not it Overwatch:

Freedom. It doesn't feel constrained, both in gameplay and expression. You can rocket jump at what speed you can reach, have fine air control - movement is as fast as your reflexes. In Overwatch you have a huge rubber band tied to you back - do something more and you'll be pulled back. All the timers feel so artificial, and movement stuff, like Phara's conc jump, that for some reason stops you after flying 10 meters, is infuriating.
The same with expression. While OW has a bigger selection of characters, most of them feel generic and doesn't allow for customization. A lot of people bash TF2 for it's skins, but I think it added a new life to it and new ways for people to play. Skins, items, taunts, a myriad of voice lines led to some most fun and hilarious online interactions I've ever had.

"The most fun you can have online" is still true about TF2.

Too bad the game has been dying for several years now. It feels like Valve has no interest in it and is constantly waiting for it to die, but it somehow just doesn't die - it's in limbo state where there's no point of investing in it any more, but killing it completely isn't an option either.
 

royox

Member
Too bad the game has been dying for several years now. It feels like Valve has no interest in it and is constantly waiting for it to die, but it somehow just doesn't die - it's in limbo state where there's no point of investing in it any more, but killing it completely isn't an option either.

What? It's still getting updates with modes, maps, equipment and balance. My gosh there's a new pyro update incoming.
 

StayDead

Member
TF2 suffered the minute they started adding extra weapons. The game was near perfect until they did that. The weapons started getting more and more absurd and now the classes have lost their identity imo.

That was always my issue with it in the end (I didn't even mind the hats), but Overwatch just feels so pure.
 
Nowadays I enjoy overwatch more, but prime tf2 still has it beat. I just had so many amazing moments in tf2 that ow will never be able to replicate, unless they drastically change how matches work.
 

kuYuri

Member
I could never get in TF2, even back when it wasn't only about hats and befor it went F2P. The gameplay just never felt right and the giant team servers were annoying and not to my liking.

I prefer Overwatch's gameplay, presentation, and it's focus on small matches and team composition.

I've played more Overwatch for as long as I've had it than TF2's 10 year lifespan.
 
Things TF2 had which Overwatch did not borrow:

- Emphasis on advanced mobility (rocket jumping, air pogos, Scout speed, etc.) and Quake-style deathmatch classes (Scout/Soldier/Demo)
- Custom servers and map editor.
- Offbeat sense of humor

Things TF2 had which Overwatch did borrow:

- Boring, low-skill tank classes
- Irritating stun mechanics
- Updates that consist largely of buggy, half-baked "events" designed solely to push loot crates.
- Janky hit boxes

Things TF2 did not have, which Overwatch added:

- Cooldowns on everything

I personally prefer the things in the first group, but I guess 20 million people disagree :/

Blizzard saw pyro airblasting people off cliffs and thought it was a good mechanic so they gave it to multiple characters and made the aoe three times bigger. 😂

I never thought there would be an FPS that took the worst parts of tf2, the low skill floor items/mechanics and the cramped corridor maps, and base a whole game off of it... Yet here we are.

The worst part of Ow is probably that it's a glorified game of rock, paper, scissors though. It contributes a lot to the toxicity of the community and the staleness of the game. But I guess it's necessary with how poor the shooting and movement in the game is.
 

Alienups

Member
One of my favorite things about TF2 aside from the stuff some have mentioned already is the ability to hard carry a pub.

Join a payload pub, round starts and 8 out 12 players (obviously brand new) go the wrong way instead of following the arrows on the map ?

winneable
 

DSix

Banned
From a game design standpoint Overwatch is a straight upgrade from TF2. It's plain better.

But, TF2 had proper community servers and custom maps, while Overwatch is toxic matchmaking bullshit.

So... It's a draw, and in the end I just don't play neither anymore.
 

xviper

Member
i don't understand why Team Fortress 2 fans still not accepting the fact that it's dead

Overwatch didn't just replace TF2, it also replaced the most played and popular shooter of the last gen, it replaced Call of Duty
 

Jacqli

Member
I played TF2 on console and, while it was a MUCH lesser experience, I could totally see the potential. I also bought the game for PC (when it was not F2P obviously!), but I could not get into it (laptop, first try at FPS, I hate keyboard…) so today I feel like I missed a great game and the chance of trying the real one.

Nowadays I am addicted to OW, I think it is really fun, direct and I find it much more visual appealing than TF2. On the other hand, I downloaded several times TF2 but always end up uninstalling because I think TF2 is not that friendly noob even though that now I could play it without issues. I have the same feeling regarding CSGO.
 
They are fairly different games aside from surface level comparisons.

One aspect that sticks out to me is the movement options. Rocket and Sticky jumping have always been my two absolute favourite things about TF2. OW's movement feels really restrictive by comparison.

I also feel that OW is a lot more shallow than TF2, but I fail to articulate why exactly that may be. This might just be bias caused by the large discrepancy between my accrued play times in both games.
 

Bluth54

Member
i don't understand why Team Fortress 2 fans still not accepting the fact that it's dead

Overwatch didn't just replace TF2, it also replaced the most played and popular shooter of the last gen, it replaced Call of Duty

How exactly is TF2 dead and Overwatch replaced it when Overwatch didn't have any impact on the TF2 playerbase and is still in the top 5 most played games on Steam?

On the other hand, I downloaded several times TF2 but always end up uninstalling because I think TF2 is not that friendly noob even though that now I could play it without issues. I have the same feeling regarding CSGO.

TF2 badly needs a full tutorial that covers all classes. Right now the tutorials only cover 3 classes and they aren't very good. I'm sure it turns away a lot of new players.
 

Vintage

Member
What? It's still getting updates with modes, maps, equipment and balance. My gosh there's a new pyro update incoming.

Updates are small, slow and usually crap. It feels like there's one or two enthusiastic guys in Valve that want to do stuff, but there's no budget or manpower to do anything more.
To bring game back to life it would take massive investment - move to the new engine, refactor most of the stuff, redesign, rebalance. Valve doens't want to commit because they think it's just gonna die soon anyways.
 

Qvoth

Member
tf2 was really fun, but i quit around the time when you need to pay money to join certain game modes? (man vs machines i think)
never bothered with ow
 
One aspect that sticks out to me is the movement options. Rocket and Sticky jumping have always been my two absolute favourite things about TF2. OW's movement feels really restrictive by comparison.

I also feel that OW is a lot more shallow than TF2, but I fail to articulate why exactly that may be. This might just be bias caused by the large discrepancy between my accrued play times in both games.


As someone who plays a lot of games competitively and have only dabbled in TF2 and OW with no investment into either. I can safely agree with you and think you aren't being bias at all. OW is very limited compared to TF2. The movement is horrible and the mechanics in general are noooo way near as satisfying to me.
 

Usobuko

Banned
Broader international appeal, better representation of minorities group and more successful in commercial and esports scene?
 
i don't understand why Team Fortress 2 fans still not accepting the fact that it's dead

Overwatch didn't just replace TF2, it also replaced the most played and popular shooter of the last gen, it replaced Call of Duty
There are currently more people on Steam playing TF2 than GTAV and it is consistently in the top 5 of concurrent players. You have a poor concept of what constitutes as dead.
 

valeo

Member
TF2 was much better at the beginning before they added more weapons etc.

Overwatch seems more toxic when playing competitive. I found TF2 funner overall.

As someone who plays a lot of games competitively and have only dabbled in TF2 and OW with no investment into either. I can safely agree with you and think you aren't being bias at all. OW is very limited compared to TF2. The movement is horrible and the mechanics in general are noooo way near as satisfying to me.

I'd agree. For some reason TF2 just seems like it has a higher skill ceiling, whether that is true or not.
 

Capitan

Member
i still think about tf2 sometimes, as i had a lot of good memories in it, and it's a great game.
but i haven't touched it in years, and I play overwatch regularly.
 

Lonely1

Unconfirmed Member
My favorite thing to do in TF2 is to just screw around doing random stuff on an endless capture the flag maps with 16+ players. Stuff Like going melee with a demo or building sentries on the enemy base. Overwatch can't compete.
 

jeemer

Member
I dropped tf2 after around 8 years of playing it at least weekly if not daily. I was under the impression I was dropping it for battlefront, but in the end it turned out I dropped it for overwatch.

I don't play as much as I used to, but I do still miss custom servers in TF2. I liked coming on to a server I knew with a group of familiar people who weren't necessarily playing so much as just chatting. For that reason I do wish there were more casual permanent modes of ow (is ctf going to be permanent?) and custom private servers.
 

Bluth54

Member
tf2 was really fun, but i quit around the time when you need to pay money to join certain game modes? (man vs machines i think)
never bothered with ow

Yeah MVM has a paid for Mann-Up mode where you get rewards, although you can still play MVM for free without getting rewards (and any other game mode for free).

As someone who plays a lot of games competitively and have only dabbled in TF2 and OW with no investment into either. I can safely agree with you and think you aren't being bias at all. OW is very limited compared to TF2. The movement is horrible and the mechanics in general are noooo way near as satisfying to me.

Yeah TF2 definitely has a higher individual skill ceiling for individual players. A single TF2 player can take out multiple enemy players if they're good enough. Overwatch seems to be more focus on team play and abilities, which was probably a better way to go for the game because if they focused on individual movement and skill the way the PC version is played would probably be too different from the console versions.
 

AJ_Wings

Member
i don't understand why Team Fortress 2 fans still not accepting the fact that it's dead

Overwatch didn't just replace TF2, it also replaced the most played and popular shooter of the last gen, it replaced Call of Duty

Because... it's not.

You have a bizzare definition of what constitutes a dead game.
 

Fonds

Member
Team Fortress 2 is a messy experience in my opinion.
Choosing maps/ getting items/ the marketplace... it's all a bit too convoluted.

Overwatch lies at the other end of the spectrum. Very straight forward (maybe too), when compared to TF 2. Besides that the carrot on the stick is too far away (which is the goal in making people spend cash on loot boxes).

In the end I feel like the plethora of classes in Overwatch are starting to blend together too much. In TF2 there is a very clear distinction in play style which Overwatch misses.
I praise Overwatch for the ease of getting into the game and a game, but it feels like I need just a bit more variety to keep more to keep me interested.
 
D

Deleted member 325805

Unconfirmed Member
Pretty much better in every way, I doubt I'll ever play TF2 again.
 
They are fairly different games aside from surface level comparisons.

One aspect that sticks out to me is the movement options. Rocket and Sticky jumping have always been my two absolute favourite things about TF2. OW's movement feels really restrictive by comparison.

I also feel that OW is a lot more shallow than TF2, but I fail to articulate why exactly that may be. This might just be bias caused by the large discrepancy between my accrued play times in both games.

Limited movement options and the lack of big impact weapons. Overwatch feels like TF2 except you're tied to the ground and all of the guns have been replaced with peashooters. Funnily enough, TFC and Quake3/CPMA veterans said the exact same things about TF2 when it was released. There were complaints over the 'casualisation' of the arena fps genre a decade ago.

I got a completely similar vibe trying out HotS a few years back coming from DotA. Played it for a few hours, didn't really feel like anything I was doing was having much immediate impact and was like 'nope this isn't for me'.

Blizzard game design these days seems to be more about subtly affecting the flow of a match rather than big impact plays. HotS and OW feel like they're designed to maintain the illusion of an equilibrium between two teams with disparate mechanical skills so that newer players don't get demoralised and give up. It's a far more welcoming experience to people who aren't familiar with the genre, especially with a diverse cast (and waifus) to give everyone someone to connect to.

Ultimately though, I feel OW is a far more shallow experience than TF2. In the same way that CS survived CoD, Team Fortress will ultimately outlive Overwatch.

It's not unreasonable to think that Valve would be eyeing the success of OW and thinking about TF3 in a few years when those players are looking for a fresh experience.
 

SandTorso

Member
I like both, but if I'm going to play one over the other these days it's still going to be TF2. Probably because I'm better at it after almost 1000 hours of play time compared to overwatch's probably 40-50, but also because I just like the map designs better.

There's room for both, I have friends that play both, but Team Fortress 2 just feels better to me. Even if there's about 400 weapons that I just don't have and I mainly just use the originals the game launched with. There's something about loading up a game of dustbowl or badwater that just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

I do wish they'd bring back the broken demo bottle though. Or the broken scout crazy legs.
 
I fucking adore Overwatch; it's been my most played game ever since I got it last summer.

However, I've only ever played a game or two of Team Fortress 2, and that was on Orange Box on XBox 360.

I should really give it a proper go on PC.
 

Zemm

Member
Overwatch still doesn't even have proper dedicated servers and so the community around the game and servers is piss poor compared to TF2. It's why I've played like 120 hours of Overwatch and never went back and got 2.5k hours out of TF2. There's no comparison.
 

Bluth54

Member
The lack of community content is very glaring in OW

I do think Blizzard letting the community make cosmetics/animations as well as maps and Blizzard making the best ones official like TF2 would be a great way to add a bunch of extra content to Overwatch.

The custom servers and mods in TF2 can be really great too.
 
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