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Blizzard introduces Overwatch players to the character they’ll control in the tutorial

Who is Soldier: 76, really?

 

Dennis Scimeca

Internet Culture

Posted on May 23, 2016   Updated on May 26, 2021, 5:53 pm CDT

Tomorrow, Blizzard releases Overwatch, its first foray into the world of first-person shooters. Today, it’s time to get to know Soldier: 76, the character you will play during the Overwatch tutorial.

Soldier: 76’s play style will be familiar to first-person shooter players as an easy way for them to learn the basic rules and mechanics of Overwatch. He makes a good choice as the first hero to let players control when they’re getting used to the controls and learning the ropes.

The short video released on Monday, Hero, also shows us that the world of Overwatch is not necessarily about traditional good guys and bad guys. Soldier: 76 used to serve with the global security force Overwatch, but when we see him fighting street crime in Dorado, Mexico, he’s more a violent vigilante than a hero fighting the good fight.

Old instincts kick in, however, when a girl’s life is put in jeopardy, and Soldier: 76 has to choose between chasing the bad guys or saving her life.

Overwatch will be released on May 24 for PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One.

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*First Published: May 23, 2016, 9:02 am CDT