We know him as the robot turret who can demolish an entire team without so much as moving. But Blizzard knows him as so much more.
Blizzard released the next installment in their animated series of shorts about Overwatch heroes today at Gamescom. The focus this time was on the much-maligned Bastion.
For most of us, all Bastion means is we’re about to get a big old headache as we attempt to capture this objective. But his animated short reminds us that his character has more depth and heart than we give him credit for.
Bastion is clearly a robot with two sides. One is what it has been programmed to do, which is to fight and to kill, and that’s represented in the video whenever Bastion’s lights turn red. But Bastion’s other side is much more complex — when he’s blue, he is inquisitive, helpful, and even seems to appreciate the nature around him.
The video also features a moment when Bastion flashes back to his days on the battlefield, when the Omnic Crisis was raging in full force. During the flashback, you get a glimpse of a Reinhardt-like soldier fighting against the robots, which is a clever nod towards the new Overwatch map that was also announced this week.
Next: New map Eichenwalde coming to Overwatch
The new map is set at German castle called Eichenwalde, which was the site of one of the biggest battles in the Omnic Crisis. Blizzard has confirmed that Eichenwalde is the birthplace of Bastion, and in the preview video for the new map there is a brief moment where we’re shown the remnants of Reinhardt-like armor. Bastion’s flashback must be in reference to this battle.
Just like all the other Overwatch shorts Blizzard has created, this one is beautifully rendered and masterfully planned. And no matter if it made you like Bastion more or not, it will at least make you fall in love with Bastion’s adorable bird friend.