Hidden Details You Missed In Overwatch

Overwatch might be a relatively young game, especially when compared to some of Blizzard's other favorite properties, but the game has had plenty of time and tender, loving care from developers to gather a few secrets. Yes, even though the game has a now glaring lack of campaign or cohesive story to speak of, there's plenty of lore to sort through.

For one thing, the comics are filled with unappreciated tidbits of information that go unnoticed among the bigger revelations like Tracer and Soldier 76's sexualities. They're totally free to read and filled with hidden details that give a whole new perspective on the world of Overwatch. The game itself is practically festooned with inside jokes and hidden details, too. Even with approximately 40 million people hopping around Hanamura and Watchpoint: Gibraltar, there are a lot of easter eggs and little hints and nudges that designers have left for players to find while desperately trying to get away from Roadhog. The comics, maps, skins, and characters themselves hide a whole world of hidden details.

Japanese is a hugely complicated language. Kanji, which are intricate Chinese symbols used in Japanese writing, have a ton of pronunciations and meanings that are easy to mix up. Fans had to wonder if Google Translate was the culprit behind the jumbled Japanese that has been featured in the game, namely in reference to the Shimada brothers, Hanzo and Genji. Way back when the cinematic "Dragons" was released, Japanese speaking fans were confused when they read the scroll in Shimada castle, still stained with Genji's blood. The scroll reads 竜頭蛇尾 (ryoutoudabi) meaning "dragon head, snake tail" which makes sense because the Shimada brothers control dragons. However, 竜頭蛇尾 (ryoutoudabi) is an idiom meaning anticlimax, which is... anticlimactic.

Later, when Hanzo's Genji-inspired Legendary skin was released, Japanese Twitter was again in an uproar of confusion. On Hanzo's weapon strap was 矢印 (yajirushi), which does mean "arrow" but not the kind that Hanzo shoots. 矢印 (yajirushi) means "arrow" as in an arrow sign that one might encounter on the street, a directional marker. 矢 (ya) would have been the appropriate kanji, but 矢印 (yajirushi) is what shows up if one types in "arrow" in English into Google Translate. Beginning Japanese classes will drill into students that Google Translate is not the way to go when doing their homework. The designers and devs at Overwatch should have done approximately two more minutes of research in order to avoid confusion and not get their good intentions lost in translation.

While the fact remains that Overwatch has had some translation mix-ups that a freshman Japanese student would make, we have to give kudos to the designers for a tiny detail that brings Japanese culture fittingly to the forefront in one skin. Genji's demonic Oni skin features a mask straight out of a kabuki play, but it's not the mask that's important.

Genji carries two swords: one he uses primarily for defense, like blocking projectiles, and the other for offensive attacks that slash through opponents like wet paper. His defensive short sword bears the kanji 正宗 "Masamune" while the other kept on his back says, 村正 "Muramasa" at the hilt. These are the two names of rival sword makers from an old Japanese legend. They were considered the best swordsmiths in the world at the time of the 13th and 14th centuries. In order to determine who was the best, they each made a katana and laid the blade in the running water of a nearby river. Muramasa's blade cut anything that came near — fish, leaves, and twigs. Fish swam around Masamune's sword and the leaves that hit it were not cut. Muramasa said that he had won, but a monk passing by begged to differ. He said that Muramasa's blade cut indiscriminately and was bloodthirsty, while Masamune's katana refused to cut the innocent, which made him the finer craftsman and thus the winner of their contest.

Genji has two swords: the bloodthirsty Muramasa and the harmonious Masamune.

Blizzard usually does right by its fanbase. The developer has a good track record of listening to and acknowledging fans and an even longer history of memorializing and honoring its players. All throughout Azeroth there are graves, shrines, and other areas dedicated to players who have passed away. Designers in Overwatch have done the same since the game's launch, honoring late players and proving that heroes never really do die.

Wu Hongyu was a student at Guangdong University of Technology. He and his friends had talked about playing Overwatch, hyped for the game's launch. A group chat message later translated on Reddit showed just how excited he was to play the game: "Is anyone else really waiting for the launch tomorrow?" On May 23, 2016, the day before Overwatch's release, Wu saw an alleged thief stealing his friend's motorcycle. He jumped into action to stop the thief, but unfortunately collided with the bike and was severely injured. Tragically, he died before he was able to play the game.

In the Lijiang Tower map, Wu is immortalized, his name written on one of the spacesuits. Above the suit reads, "heroes never die" in Chinese. Blizzard told Polygon, "We added that in remembrance of a brave member of our community."

Gabriel Reyes goes exclusively by the name Reaper now. It's a fitting title, considering his grim appearance and ghostly abilities. He's healed by the damage that he deals to others, and he can become immaterial black smoke that disappears as fast as it appears in his wraith form. He's one of the deadliest creatures on earth and he says as much with menacing (if not slightly emo) quotes like, "I am the angel of death," and "The grave cannot hold me."

Gabriel Reyes, who at one time rolled his eyes at a pumpkin-headed specter that looks strikingly similar to his Halloween skin, is essentially dead. Reaper is all that is left of the former Overwatch agent. At one time, he was Soldier 24 to Jack Morrison's Soldier 76. He was talented, respected, even liked before something went terribly, terribly wrong. When Overwatch's Swiss headquarters were destroyed, Reaper was born.

Previous to the end of Overwatch, Moira O'Deorain had done experiments on Reyes, allowing his cells to decay and regenerate at supernatural speeds. These experiments suspended him somewhere between life and death, and may have allowed him to survive the explosion at the Swiss headquarters — most of him, anyway. Whatever is beneath Reaper's mask is horrifying enough to make a hardened old soldier like Ana aghast. He's still recognizable, if only partially. Reaper blames Jack Morrison for his curse of an existence, and is out for revenge with whatever is left of his face.

In Eichenwalde, the armor of Reinhardt's former mentor Balderich von Adler stands sentinel on the castle throne. The place is something of a memorial, with Reinhardt returning to reaffirm his dedication to answering the call of those in need. This makes the German map somber, but within the Black Forest, there is another memorial that developers added to honor the passing of a German Overwatch coach.

Dennis "INTERNETHULK" Hawelka played for Team EnVyUs before he transitioned into a coaching role. He first coached Rogue before signing on with Team Liquid. In November of 2017, he sadly passed away at the age of 30. Blizzard created The Dennis Hawelka Award in his memory, to be awarded to the player who made the most positive impact.

On the Eichenwalde map, near the attack spawn, is a small shelf below a Crusader poster. On it is a lit candle and a lily, the poster making it clear who the memorial is dedicated to: in white, Hawelka's initials are written above the message, "Crusader standing guard."

Fareeha Amari (callsign "Pharah") was obsessed with Overwatch as a child. She was absolutely starstruck by her mother, who was a member of the elite heroes. Little Fareeha grew up hearing stories of the bravery and daring her mother's coworkers accomplished. She was well on her way to joining too, becoming a highly commended member of the Egyptian army. Before she was able to become a hero like her (presumed) late mother, Overwatch was disbanded.

Between her mother's apparent death and her work as a soldier, we know little about how Fareeha grew up. It is presumed that she lived with her father, Sam. We don't know much about him either, but what has been revealed by developers and the holiday comic "Reflections" clears up some serious controversy surrounding some of Pharah's skins.

In the holiday comic, we see Pharah sat in a scene with her father that practically screams Canadian. Hockey, complete with maple leaf flag, is on the television behind them. It is snowing fluffy, white flakes outside. Developers like director Jeff Kaplan have suggested that her father, Sam, is a member of the First Nations. If this is true, then Pharah's "Thunderbird" and "Raindancer" skins, controversial for what appeared to be cultural appropriation, would actually be fitting for her character, rather than making her look like one of those girls who shows up at Coachella in a feathered headdress.