Ilari's Dilemma: Unraveling Overwatch 2's Game-Changing Issue

Highlights

The new Support hero, Illari, has sparked discussion among the community on whether she needs a nerf, though her story may also need some adjusting.

Illari's origin story is powerful and stands on its own, however, she lacks a strong connection to the broader Overwatch 2 universe and meaningful interactions with other characters.

Blizzard must endeavor to develop friendships and rivalries for Illari through future comics, short stories, cinematics, and dialogue.

The content fragment has been

The highly anticipated Season 6 update for Overwatch 2 has finally arrived and fans have been expressing their opinions on the new Invasion mode. While some fans have criticized the length and pricing of the game's story missions, there is widespread agreement that the PvE aspect has contributed greatly to the lore and character development of the series. Additionally, the new progression system has added much-needed depth for dedicated players, and the Flashpoint's expansive maps have lived up to Blizzard's promises.

However, the focus of most discussions has been on the newly introduced Support hero, Illari. Opinions within the Overwatch 2 community differ on whether this hero requires a nerf. While she can be a formidable force in the hands of skilled players, toning down her damage output too much could make her less effective as a counter to Pharah - a long-standing request from Support users. Regardless of Blizzard's decision on nerfing Illari or keeping her as is in the competitive playlist, it is important for the developers to integrate her more seamlessly into the existing roster from a narrative perspective. Currently, fans have validly pointed out that Illari feels disconnected from the rest of the game's characters.

Illari Desperately Needs Some Connections to The Rest of Overwatch 2’s Cast

Illari's origin story is undeniably impressive and stands out as one of the most impactful pieces of lore in the franchise. Accidentally causing the death of her own family is an incredibly difficult experience, and while Overwatch 2 already has remorseful heroes like Hanzo, Illari's trauma appears unparalleled. Additionally, her exceptional power level is only rivaled by Sigma in canonical terms. Furthermore, the introduction of the Inti Warriors as a captivating faction adds diversity and invites further exploration of different parts of the world.

However, despite the brilliance of Illari's story, the character feels somewhat disconnected from the broader Overwatch 2 universe. The emergence of the Inti Warriors seems to come out of nowhere, without any significant prior mentions. Not only is this faction entirely new, but Illari's origin story video fails to provide concrete details about her future direction. Although she desires to make amends for her fatal mistake, fans are left in the dark regarding her plans and how she intends to achieve redemption.

Perhaps Illari should consider aligning herself with her corner of the world, safeguarding her people just as Kiriko does. However, even Kiriko possesses substantial bonds with the Shimada brothers and a distinct place within the established Overwatch universe. The same can be said for all the other characters that have been introduced to the hero shooter, as each of them boasts at least one noteworthy connection. For instance, Ana is Pharah’s mother, Sigma and Sombra are affiliated with Talon, and Wrecking Ball originates from the same colony as Winston. Even recently added characters have evident ties, such as Lifeweaver and Vishkar or Junker Queen and her fellow Junkers.

To prevent Illari from perpetually feeling like an outsider, it is imperative that she establishes more canon relationships with the existing Overwatch 2 roster. Although her sense of alienation could potentially work to her advantage, considering her past failures, Blizzard must delve into this aspect through shorts, comics, or cinematics. Witnessing her affiliation with Overwatch, clashes with Talon, or defense against an Omnic assault in her homeland would greatly contribute to her integration into the hero shooter universe.

The characters and relationships in Overwatch 2 have always been its greatest asset, prompting fans to rejoice when Reinhardt, Torbjorn, and Brigitte joined forces in the Gothenburg mission. The prospect of content centered around Ramattra and Zenyatta is equally thrilling. Moreover, the anticipation of witnessing Hanzo and Genji reconcile in the future has fans eagerly awaiting. Whether they are friendships or rivalries, Illari should prioritize building relationships that fans can quickly invest in.

You can find Overwatch 2 on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.