[Overwatch] Introducing "Ashe" (New hero)

[TopazFusion]

New Overwatch hero has been unveiled at Blizzcon, and is named "Ashe".

Introductory video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8LbOecWGug

Animated short: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKYVvPNhRR0

Origin story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvT9wKCrEyo

(You'll have to follow the links, because embeds aren't working)


I have mixed feelings about this new hero.

I'll start with the positive. It doesn't look like she'll be game breaking and/or be so overpowered that it makes certain heroes borderline unplayable (looking at you Brig and Doomfist). So that's something at least.

On the other hand, this is just one more nail in poor McCree's coffin. There will literally be no reason to play McCree ever again after Ashe is added to the game. She does everything he does, but better.
Better damage (from the footage I've seen), better mobility, and better ultimate.
The only thing that Cree brings to the table is a small difficult-to-land stun on a long cooldown. Hardly worth it, imo.

Maybe we might see a McCree re-work in the pipeline at some point in the future, but that's another conversation for another day.

As for Ashe, she's yet another counter to Pharah, so I imagine Pharah players probably won't like this news.
Buuut... your thoughts?

 

[Hawki]

Buuut... your thoughts?

That the animated short is every cowboy cliche you can think of, but still reasonably enjoyable.

And that character-wise, Echo looks far more interesting.

 

[Catfood220]

Seems the right time to announce your new Cowgirl, just after Red dead Redemption 2 has released. Cynical timing? Yep.

Anyway, she looks like a less boring McCree.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I don't give a crap about Overwatch, I'm just here to say 'Yay, Jennifer Hale!'

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

And now my impression of Blizzard:

Please stop playing Red Dead Redemption 2! Please stop! Here, have a Cowgirl we totally didn't plan to release at the exact same time as the single most hyped game of the year! We're not desperate! We're still relevant! People still care about OverWatch

 

[Hawki]

Seems the right time to announce your new Cowgirl, just after Red dead Redemption 2 has released. Cynical timing? Yep.

And now my impression of Blizzard:

Please stop playing Red Dead Redemption 2! Please stop! Here, have a Cowgirl we totally didn't plan to release at the exact same time as the single most hyped game of the year! We're not desperate! We're still relevant! People still care about OverWatch

I really doubt that's the case.

For starters, they'd have to begin work on Ashe at the right time to reveal her at the right time. Secondly, Overwatch has always had a cowboy element with McCree, and the Deadlock Gang were known to exist in the setting as long as he has. Thirdly, assuming that this is indeed meant to cash in in RDR, the question is, why? One is a Wild West set in the early 20th century and is a singleplayer experience. The other is sci-fi set in the 2070s that's multiplayer only with only one confirmed 'cowboy' group operating in one country. I don't doubt there's people that play both games, but these are completely different games.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

I'm just here to say 'Yay, Jennifer Hale!'

I'm glad I'm not going deaf. I thought that was her.

I don't own Overwatch, but I am thinking about picking it up. It looks reasonably fun.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

Seems the right time to announce your new Cowgirl, just after Red dead Redemption 2 has released. Cynical timing? Yep.

And now my impression of Blizzard:

Please stop playing Red Dead Redemption 2! Please stop! Here, have a Cowgirl we totally didn't plan to release at the exact same time as the single most hyped game of the year! We're not desperate! We're still relevant! People still care about OverWatch

I really doubt that's the case.

For starters, they'd have to begin work on Ashe at the right time to reveal her at the right time. Secondly, Overwatch has always had a cowboy element with McCree, and the Deadlock Gang were known to exist in the setting as long as he has. Thirdly, assuming that this is indeed meant to cash in in RDR, the question is, why? One is a Wild West set in the early 20th century and is a singleplayer experience. The other is sci-fi set in the 2070s that's multiplayer only with only one confirmed 'cowboy' group operating in one country. I don't doubt there's people that play both games, but these are completely different games.

Its a popular game, that's all the reason Blizzard needs to want to crash the party. Also RDR2 has been announced for a long time. Wouldn't surprise me if Blizzard has dozens of characters ready to reveal at any given point, and just had the cowgirl planned to be released around RDR2's release.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

I read somewhere that people on tumblr were mad this character is white. Is that true for fans overall? Cause to me she looks pretty cool and I don't get the issue. (I'm an uber scrub Genji casual at this game and I don't really follow much of the community about it so I don't know for sure, more into fighting games for my competitive gaming haha)

 

[PapaGreg096]

I read somewhere that people on tumblr were mad this character is white. Is that true for fans overall? Cause to me she looks pretty cool and I don't get the issue. (I'm an uber scrub Genji casual at this game and I don't really follow much of the community about it so I don't know for sure, more into fighting games for my competitive gaming haha)

1. Why would you care if a small group of people on tumblr were mad at the character being white
2. Not really

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

I read somewhere that people on tumblr were mad this character is white. Is that true for fans overall? Cause to me she looks pretty cool and I don't get the issue. (I'm an uber scrub Genji casual at this game and I don't really follow much of the community about it so I don't know for sure, more into fighting games for my competitive gaming haha)

1. Why would you care if a small group of people on tumblr were mad at the character being white
2. Not really

Morbid curiosity I guess? I just read it not an hour ago so I had it on the back of my mind and I figured I'd ask. Though to be fair I didn't read how many people were mad so I don't know if there's a small or large group of people. Thanks for letting me know though.

 

[WindKnight]

I'm just here to say 'Yay, Jennifer Hale!'

I'm glad I'm not going deaf. I thought that was her.

I don't own Overwatch, but I am thinking about picking it up. It looks reasonably fun.

If you're intending to play alone (IE without friends or a group) I recommend being flexible with your character picks, and being very... patient. Learn 2-3 each of tanks and supports, and try not to scream too much when 3-5 of the other players on your team all pick DPS characters, and all try to win the game by taking on the entire enemy team solo.

Also, you WILL hate lootboxes. I'm stubborn enough to have never bought them on principal, and very much LOATHE them.

As someone who tried to fill in what the team needs (though on a moira kick right now as I'm going insane trying to get her cute spray) I doubt I'll get to play ashe much. looks interesting though.

The cinematic landed very flat for me, as I'm not really into McCree or coyboys in general, but Echo looks interesting. Hopefully she'll be in the game soonish

 

[Paragon Fury]

Eh.

I stopped caring about OW due to the massive balance issues it had/has, Blizzard's complete denial of any of the real issues or wants of the community (like a SoloQ, or taking care of griefers/one tricks), Blizzard's inability to design a decent map after launch (or hire anyone who has designed FPS maps in their life. Seriously, I know maps made completely in Halo's Forge mode 1000x better than literally every single OW map) and lack of any real single player or good story content/events.

The trailer was still excellent though, and entertaining to watch. AND HOLY SHIT, THE QUALITY ON THE APPLE PIE.

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

Eh.

I stopped caring about OW due to the massive balance issues it had/has, Blizzard's complete denial of any of the real issues or wants of the community (like a SoloQ, or taking care of griefers/one tricks), Blizzard's inability to design a decent map after launch (or hire anyone who has designed FPS maps in their life. Seriously, I know maps made completely in Halo's Forge mode 1000x better than literally every single OW map) and lack of any real single player or good story content/events.

The trailer was still excellent though, and entertaining to watch. AND HOLY SHIT, THE QUALITY ON THE APPLE PIE.

Man, I occasionally dream about a single player campaign mode for Overwatch.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

I'm seeing her as a sort of long range junkrat for maps that are too open for junkrat to be viable.

She has the same sort of mobility and enemy displacement, her dynamite has the same sort of utility of zoning, going around shields, and hitting multiple enemies, but unlike junkrat she's good at shooting enemies in the open rather than spamming down a lane.

I really don't see here as a McCree replacement, they really play at very different ranges. McCree is all about playing short to mid-range and is good at anti-dive because of his stun and ability to 1-2 shot squishies. Ashe seems like more of a mid to long range character who is going to have trouble against dive characters and would rather escape from them than fight them. Her dynamite is also best against slower targets and big clumps of enemies (goats comp) rather than dive since it takes more set-up to use.

I think McCree is safe, and people who are saying that she's a better McCree don't really understand McCree. Soldier 76 on the other hand? Ashe could TOTALLY replace soldier in a team comp.

 

[ObsidianJones_v1legacy]

On the other hand, this is just one more nail in poor McCree's coffin. There will literally be no reason to play McCree ever again after Ashe is added to the game. She does everything he does, but better.
Better damage (from the footage I've seen), better mobility, and better ultimate.
The only thing that Cree brings to the table is a small difficult-to-land stun on a long cooldown. Hardly worth it, imo.

Maybe we might see a McCree re-work in the pipeline at some point in the future, but that's another conversation for another day.

This is the problem I have with Mobas and Overwatch. The more and more you add new characters, eventually they are going to push out old characters by making them redundant or useless in comparison.

 

[IceForce]

Introductory video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8LbOecWGug

lol @ that Brig staring at the dynamite as it explodes. Why didn't she just shield herself from it?

Bronze Brig confirmed.

 

[IceForce]

Okay, she's now live, and I've had a bit of a play around with her.

I'll admit I'm not the best player at this game, but Ashe just feels... not very good.
Like, her damage is fine and all, but she feels wayyyy too squishy.

I assume it's a hitbox issue, (I've been told that Ashe's head is absolutely massive), because even if you're running around with the full 200 health, it feels like you're running around with only 2hp, given how quickly she dies.

tbh, I'd still rather just play Hanzo. He puts out more damage than she does, he can one-shot things, and he's quite difficult to kill due to his tiny hitbox (especially his head).

Assuming my findings are correct (and it's not just me being bad), this kinda puts Ashe in the same place as Pharah.
Like Pharah, Ashe is going to need a pocket healer essentially 24/7 in order to get anything done. Additionally, Mercy's damage boost bumps a scoped Ashe headshot to just over 200 damage, which allows her to one-shot enemies.

So Ashe+Mercy could be a decent combo (much like Pharah+Mercy), and Mercy's been in a bad spot for a while, so this could be something to bring her back a bit. But I'm not sure it's particularly good game design for a hero to be basically nothing more than an 'attachment' to another hero. I guess time will tell.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

I wish I could give my opinion on her but unfortunately my mouse got worn out and I just got a new one, so I'm still dialing in all the settings, so playing precision characters is kind of out for the moment since I can't hit anything I'm aiming at with any consistency.