Some players have started to share their experience with the new Overwatch 2, comparing it to be less rewarding than the original title in smaller and larger ways. This lack of a rewarding feeling also goes beyond Overwatch 2's weekly challenges, commenting directly on the actual gameplay experience and especially the post-match recap.
One post to the Overwatch subreddit points out some of the specific aspects that can make the experience feel like Overwatch 2 has lost some of the fun and rewarding nature from the original game. Similarly, many other fans have gathered around the post to comment on their own gripes with how some smaller details being stripped from the game has weakened the sequel.
The first point that the post comments on is the lack of an On-Fire Meter that lets players know when they're excelling during a match. As has been pointed out by others in comments, the characters will still announce when they are On-Fire, but there's no visual effect that goes alongside the status. Both the original poster and other fans coming to comment specify how this removes the momentum and in-game incentive from the original Overwatch, giving players a negative response to Overwatch 2.
In addition to the lack of an On-Fire Meter, the post-match screen also appears to have lost medals and cards that show who excelled in a match and allow players to prop up teammates and even opponents. This is mostly notable by fans due to the way that these post-match interactions had gone a long way in the original Overwatch to make for a less-toxic and more welcoming environment online. Then there's the issue of fan-favorite maps from Overwatch not making it into Overwatch 2, due in part to the new team dynamics and sizes in the new sequel.
Needless to say, the transition from Overwatch to its sequel has been tough for Blizzard and fans of the series, especially with the launch being plagued by server issues and malicious actors attacking Overwatch 2 with DDOS attacks. While it's true that the original title spent years building smaller details into the formula that would eventually bring Overwatch to some of its highest peaks, it is strange to see the sequel not utilize all of these details. In that case, Overwatch 2 has a lot of work ahead of it in order to manage to hit the same rewarding and fun experience that the original had at its best.
Overwatch 2 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.