Overwatch: 10 Major Story Details The Game Doesn't Tell You

You know Reaper is a bad guy, right?

Overwatch reaper
Blizzard

Video game universes really don't get any better than Overwatch. Its charming blend of sci-fi and comic book themes has meant that Blizzard's immensely successful action shooter has resonated on a level that goes far beyond the ordinary.

Of course, the game fails to divulge most of the title's backstory. There's an opening cutscene which vaguely chronicles the events leading up to and following the Omnic Crisis, as well as the dissolution of Overwatch itself, but apart from that, players are forced to draw inferences from in-game dialogue.

Not much of an arduous task some might say, but still, it's a far cry away from being a fully fledged bridge into the universe.

Outside of the game, however, there's an awful lot to dissect. On top of some really fantastic animated shorts (the first of which you can watch above), Blizzard have been pushing a cross-medium approach to the Overwatch brand, with comics too serving as a gateway into the lore of the fresh IP.

It's certainly not a new approach to the genre, but its heterogeneous nature can only stand to amplify Blizzard's efforts. Indeed, the mythos itself is captivating enough as it is, and again, that sense of ambiguity has probably aided in its mass uptake.

But what do we really know about the universe of Overwatch? Well...

10. Zenyatta Is Genji's Omnic Master

Overwatch reaper
Blizzard

Have you ever wondered what might happen if you crossed the T-1000 with a shaman monk? If you ever did, be thankful Blizzard responded, as Zenyatta is about as close as you'll get to such an awesome combination.

Apart from the fact that, y'know, he looks awesome, Zenyatta is one of Overwatch's most endearing characters. You know what else is cool? He's Genji's adoptive master. That's right, the cyborg ninja has a robot monk for a teacher. That's just cool no matter how you look at it.

As the wayward ninja travels the world, a chance encounter with Zenyatta encourages Genji to come to terms with his newfound cybernetic demeanour. Together, they form a crimefighting duo - a team that would eventually contribute to the reformation of Overwatch during the second Omnic Crisis.

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Content Producer/Presenter
Content Producer/Presenter

Resident movie guy at WhatCulture who used to be Comics Editor. Thinks John Carpenter is the best. Likes Hellboy a lot. Can usually be found talking about Dad Movies on his Twitter at @EwanRuinsThings.