Overwatch 2's Captivating Animated Short: Sojourn's Solution to Hero Complaints
Sojourn's Overwatch 2 Animated Short tackles a major fan complaint about the hero while offering exciting new features like 'Calling' for Murphy Cosmetics and unforgettable Sojourn skins Balancing issues aside, this short has the potential to address player concerns and enhance the overall gameplay experience
Highlights
Sojourn has been criticized for lacking memorable cosmetics, unlike other new heroes.
Fortunately, the Sojourn animated short, called "Calling," presents exciting possibilities for new skin concepts, particularly her relaxed civilian attire, which would greatly diversify her cosmetic options. Moreover, the short delights viewers by introducing Sojourn's lovable canine companion, Murphy, stealing the spotlight. Undoubtedly, incorporating emotes and victory poses involving Murphy would undoubtedly be a hit among players.
The new hero additions in Overwatch 2 have been intriguing so far. Lifeweaver is receiving another round of buffs in hopes of being viable in high-level play, while Kiriko and Ramattra have thrived since their debut. Junker Queen has had a presence throughout the game, always offering a fun experience, whereas Sojourn was overpowered for several months consecutively. Although she has become less dominant due to nerfs, Blizzard is only just starting to address another criticism about Sojourn: her lack of memorable cosmetics.
This critique does not apply to the other new additions in Overwatch 2, as fans can easily find impressive skins such as Poseidon Ramattra, Gladiator Junker Queen, or Witch Kiriko. However, Sojourn's outfits appear relatively ordinary and similar. Additionally, her emotes and victory poses aren't particularly striking. This has contributed to Sojourn's reputation as a "boring" character. Fortunately, Sojourn's animated short might offer solutions to her cosmetic predicament.
"Calling" Allows For Murphy Cosmetics and Two Memorable Sojourn Skins
Showing Sojourn's vigilante work and civilian life has significantly enhanced her likability as a character. Along with this, the "Calling" animated short presents some interesting skin ideas. One of these skins, her vigilante attire, is already confirmed for Season 6. This design appears simple with an all-black outfit and a motorcycle helmet, but its sleek design and prominence in the animated short make it highly desirable. However, Blizzard can explore more Sojourn cosmetics related to the short.
The next outfit could be similar to Mei's Pajamei outfit, which amusingly debuted in an animated short featuring the ice-wielder. Similar to Mei's casual outfit, Blizzard should introduce Sojourn's civilian attire to the hero shooter. This outfit would show Sojourn wearing a sweater to combat the cold Canadian weather, and with the addition of glasses, she would appear less intimidating than usual. Most of Sojourn's cosmetics focus on her cybernetic enhancements and military background, so a "normal" skin like this would be a refreshing addition.
In addition to providing skin ideas, the new Sojourn story content showcases Murphy, her adorable pet dog, stealing the spotlight. The talented animators at Blizzard have accentuated his cuteness in every scene he appears. It would be a welcome addition to have an emote of Sojourn scolding Murphy for eating a croissant or summoning him for cuddles similar to Brigitte's popular Katt emote. Moreover, a victory pose with Murphy playing with his Pachimari toy would undoubtedly be a big hit.
Blizzard could also consider adding another Toronto map featuring Sojourn's house or incorporating it into the upcoming Canada PvE mission. In the short, Sojourn's house transforms into a fortress with a complete armory, which could offer a fun battleground. If players have the opportunity to explore the house, they might stumble upon alternate outfits for Sojourn, teasing potential skins through an Easter egg. This would allow Blizzard to gauge the community's response and determine which skins are worth creating.
In conclusion, Sojourn's short film has immense potential for new cosmetics. It has effectively generated excitement for Overwatch 2's Invasion story missions, and these cosmetics should be expanded upon to further engage fans of the hero. While the Ocean Goddess skin is a positive development, creating additional items inspired by the animated short will maintain momentum. Overwatch 2 can be played on various platforms including PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
