With theOverwatch 2roster full of heroes with extremely varied designs, and an array of cosmetics that takes those base looks in more outlandish directions, it is safe to say that fans of interesting-looking characters have plenty to enjoy in the hero shooter. From futuristic cowboys and cyborg ninjas to evil scientists and genius gorillas, the cast of Blizzard’s hero shooter is filled with figures that are just as unique aesthetically as they are mechanically. However, the most uniqueOverwatch 2hero of all has been oddly limited with his skin options.
When thinking aboutOverwatch 2heroes with the most unique mechanics, there are a few that likely come to mind. D.Va’s two forms make her intriguing,Doomfistfeels like he was ripped straight out of a fighting game, and Lucio’s ability to heal with the power of music while he’s running on walls results in a truly unique experience. However, it is Wrecking Ball that feels unlike anything else in the FPS genre, as his hamster ball mech results in wildly different mechanics - even if his skins play it a bit too safe.
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Wrecking Ball’s Overwatch 2 Skins Should Embrace Other Animals
To be clear, Wrecking Ball has some great skins for fans to collect. His new bee from outfit from theOverwatch 2Season 5 Battle Passis adorable, while his outer space and Junker-themed designs pay homage to his origin story. The Snowman and Submarine skins are cute, too, though his best looks are the ones that transform Hammond himself. Crustacean not only gives Hammond’s mech a crab-like shell, but transforms the cuddly rodent into an undersea creature with webbed ears. The Jack-O’-Lantern skin sees a creepy version of the hamster crawling around inside a pumpkin, with the bag-like design resembling Oogie Boogie fromThe Nightmare Before Christmas.
It is these final two skins that Blizzard should take inspiration from, as it should start to get a lot more creative with the design of Hammond himself. Since its inception,Overwatch 2has stuck by the rule that a hero’s silhouette should always be easy to distinguish regardless of the skin they are wearing. This keeps competition fair, with players always aware of exactly who they are fighting against no matter what they are wearing. However,Wrecking Ball’s pilot does not need to follow this rule as closely as everyone else.
As long as the Wrecking Ball mech itself remains easy to distinguish, its small, furry pilot does not have to remain the exact same in terms of his appearance. This is a big deal, as thoughBlizzardis a bit limited on just how much it can change up a human hero like Mercy or Tracer, it has complete freedom when it comes to the design of Hammond. As such, much like Crustacean and Jack-O’Lantern take Hammond away from his typical hamster look, Blizzard can use the same apptoach to adapt more of the animal kingdom for his future cosmetics.
Instead of just cosplaying as a bee like he does in Season 5, Hammond can be fully transformed into other critters. Man’s best friend is an obvious example, as Hammond could be redesigned to look like a small dog instead of a hamster. Similarly, with fans having no idea of whether the scrapped Jetpack Cat hero concept will ever become a reality, a cat-themed Hammond skin would be a great way to pay homage to the idea. PerhapsBrigitte’s cat Mitzi could be the cat used for the outfit, while the mech could be a giant yarn ball or mouse toy.
Speaking of mice, a mouse skin for Hammond could be cute, with players rolling around in a mech made of cheese. A highlight intro is easy to imagine for such a skin, with the mousey Hammond chewing on his delicious mech before looking up at the camera. A rabbit version of Hammond could be housed inside a mech that looks like a carrot, aWinnie the Pooh-themed design could see players controlling a gold bear who pilots a tree-themed mech, and a kangaroo design could see Hammond placed inside a larger kangaroo mech to represent the animal’s pouch. Hopefully, Blizzard considers using more critters forHammond skins, as there is little reason to remain committed to the hamster design for silly, non-canon cosmetics.
Overwatch 2is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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