Tracer (Overwatch)

Tracer is a player character appearing in the 2016 video game Overwatch, a Blizzard Entertainment developed first-person shooter video game and its related media. Although Tracer is from the Overwatch universe, she was introduced in Blizzard's crossover multiplayer online battle arena game, Heroes of the Storm, in an April 2016 update for that game.

The character, who is of British origin, is known by her call sign "Tracer", although her real name is Lena Oxton. In Overwatch, her gameplay mechanics are noted for being one of the fastest in terms of speed, but weakest in terms of health. Tracer has also been noted to be a peppy and energetic character. She makes use of her speed through teleportation and time traveling abilities that are caused by an in-universe accident, which left her unable to maintain a physical form in the present time, until Winston invented a device allowing her to control her physical form.

Tracer is one of the more recognizable Overwatch characters, having prominent roles in the game's official media, including promotional works and the game's cover art, as well as fan art. Her profile rose even more so when the character was given additional media attention through online controversies—one surrounding one of her victory poses, and another surrounding her prominence in fan-produced pornography that Blizzard has made efforts to remove.

Development and design

Tracer was one of the first twelve Overwatch characters introduced at BlizzCon 2014.^[2] Scott Mercer, the principal designer on Overwatch stated that Blizzard's canceled project, Titan had a character with Tracer's abilities.^[3] Jeff Goodman, the lead hero designer for Overwatch had a "big hand" in Tracer's design; she was the first hero designed for the game and was used to test the basic gameplay.^[4][5] Overwatch's Assistant Game Director Aaron Keller expressed how Tracer's three abilities maintained throughout the game's development, as opposed to the game's other heroes, stating "From the beginning, she originated as a 'whole' hero."^[4] However, her health pool was nerfed during the game's late closed beta stages.^[6]

Tracer has also been noted for being a peppy character,^[7] with Hardcore Gamer describing her as a "spunky Brit," that is "full of little quips as she zips around the battlefield."^[8] In an interview with PCGamesN, Overwatch game designer Michael Chu stated that "the thing about Tracer is that she has a personality which is out of the norm for most people. She is incredibly optimistic, she is incredibly bubbly - it's part of her hero persona. We love her, I think she is very much one of the main characters of the game [...] [to] really carry the torch of what the game is all about: heroism."^[9] Matching her English origin, Tracer is voiced by English actress Cara Theobold.^[1]

Comparison between Tracer's original pose (left) and altered replacement (right)^[10]

Upon the return of Overwatch's closed beta in February 2016, victory poses, among other elements were added to the characters.^[11] In March 2016, controversy arose over Tracer's "Over the Shoulder" victory pose, after a user opined in the game's forums that it was out of character and that its supposed oversexualization "reduces Tracer to just another bland female sex symbol."^[12][13] The post generated a discussion in the forums, which gaming outlets noted to be civil; several users added their dissenting opinions of the pose, while others disagreed with the original poster's thoughts.^[14] Overwatch's Game Director, Jeff Kaplan, posted an apologetic response, in which he announced Blizzard's plans to replace the pose, writing "the last thing we want to do is make someone feel uncomfortable, under-appreciated or misrepresented."^[15][16] The decision was met with mixed reactions from the gaming community, with some gamers arguing that Blizzard yielded its creative control over the game, censoring its content to appease an offended user,^[13] while others praised Blizzard's willingness to listen to the community and adhere to standards for portraying a character according to their personality.^[17] Kaplan later expressed that the game's development team was not "entirely happy with the original pose," and had internal creative struggles about its inclusion.^[13][15] The following week, a replacement pose was released, although it was noted to be similar to the original pose.^[10][18] The replacement pose was alleged to be influenced by a Billy De Vorss cheesecake pin-up illustration.^[18][19]

Gameplay

Overwatch

Tracer's role in Overwatch is on offense.^[20] Reflecting this, her character comes equipped with dual "Pulse Pistols", which reload quickly and deal damage rapidly at a short range.^[20][21] Her speed is especially noted among video game outlets, as she is the fastest character on the game's roster.^[22][23] This attribute is noted to be one of the advantages that comes with playing as her, but also an annoyance to opposing players.^[24][25] Her speed is supplemented through her "Blink" and "Recall" abilities—Blink, which comes with three charges, allows her to teleport a short distance in the direction she is traveling in.^[7] Using this ability may allow Tracer to "zip behind an enemy in an instant for surprise attacks, or dodge completely out of the line of fire."^[20] This ability has a cooldown period, meaning the player has to wait for each Blink to recharge, although the cooldown period is relatively short.^[22] In addition, her Recall ability allows her to rewind to her position three seconds prior, as well as resetting her health and ammo.^[20] Like Blink, her Recall ability also has a cooldown period. Although Tracer has a speed advantage, she also has one of the lowest health pools in the game.^[22][23] Finally, her ultimate ability is her "Pulse Bomb": a sticky that clings to the first surface or hero it hits, then detonating shortly after, dealing area of effect damage.^[20][21]

Heroes of the Storm

Destructoid noted her unconventional design in Heroes of the Storm was similar to her Overwatch design, writing that "she has the same basic abilities, and even powers up her Heroic [ability] just like an ultimate [in Overwatch] – by dealing damage."^[26] A Heroic ability in Heroes of the Storm is a player-chosen ability, accessible to players once the hero reaches level 10.^[27] However, in Heroes of the Storm, players had no choice over Tracer's Heroic ability, which was also unlocked immediately.^[27] Her core skillset is teleportation, which includes a quick blink strike in any direction and the "Recall" mechanic that rewinds her back to the location she was at three seconds ago."^[26] Chris Thursten of PC Gamer wrote that "the fact that she literally runs circles around certain heroes, coupled with the notion that she defies the rules of the game, is exactly why [he was] impressed by her design."^[28] Acknowledging that she can be an "absolute terror to the enemy team," Blizzard rolled out a nerfed version of the character on May 4, less than a month after her introduction into the game.^[29]

Appearances

Overwatch

Video game

Tracer's fictional biography lists her real name, age, and base of operations: Lena Oxton, 26, and London, England, respectively.^[30][31] In Overwatch lore, Tracer is an adventurer, as well as a former agent of the Overwatch organization, and became the youngest person inducted into its experimental flight program.^[2] Known for her piloting skills, she was chosen to test the Slipstream, a prototype of a teleporting fighter. During the test flight, the Slipstream's teleportation matrix malfunctioned, and Tracer was pronounced dead. However, she would later reappear, having been desynchronized from the flow of time. This "chronal disassociation" prevented her from keeping a physical form in the present, until a scientist named Winston created the chronal accelerator.^[31] This allowed Tracer to have control of her own time. These events occur during a period known as the "Omnic Crisis", an in-universe event that saw the world's omniums begin producing hostile omnics, threatening the stability of the world and prompting the formation of Overwatch.^[32] Though Overwatch has dissolved in the game's lore, her fictional biography asserts that Tracer continues "to right wrongs and fight the good fight wherever the opportunity presents itself."^[2][30]

Animations

Tracer's appearance in the animated short "Alive"

In March 2016, Tracer had a voice-only appearance in "Recall," the first in a four-part series of animated Overwatch shorts. Here, Tracer responds to Winston's recall of Overwatch agents, allowing her voice to be heard.^[33]

In April, Tracer made a physical appearance in Alive, the second in the series of animated Overwatch shorts.^[34] In the short, Tracer attempts to stop the character Widowmaker from assassinating Tekhartha Mondatta, the head of the Shambali, a group of omnics formed to bring peace between omnics and humans.^[32][35] However, Tracer fails to protect Mondatta, and in the process gets her chronal accelerator damaged.^[32] This event occurred during an era called the "Recall," an in-universe period in which the world is falling back into darkness.^[32]

Heroes of the Storm

Tracer debuted in the video game Heroes of the Storm, through its April 2016 update, nearly a month prior to the release of Overwatch.^[36][37] PC Gamer's Thursten saw her inclusion in the game as "a marketing move, for sure," but also noted that "Tracer introduces a bunch of new ideas to Heroes of the Storm that elevate her above traditional preorder bonus fluff. She's not just a legitimate addition to the roster: [He'd] go as far as to say that she feels different to any other MOBA character [he's] played, and this is a direct consequence of her FPS origins."^[28]

Reception

Tracer has been cited as being the "poster girl" for the game;^[20][21] the gaming magazine Hardcore Gamer concurred, describing Tracer as "Overwatch's single most iconic character."^[38] Many publications have referred to her as the game's mascot, or note that she essentially fills the role of one.^[8][12][39] Even prior to the game's official release, VentureBeat detailed, "if you've paid any attention to the early fan culture for Overwatch, you've likely noticed that Tracer seems especially popular."^[40] Kotaku's Nathan Grayson detailed "she's peppy and fun, but also courageous and badass," adding that, "In creating their own works involving Tracer, fans have turned those characteristics up to 11. Some depict her as childlike, naive and carefree. She can even be kind of a doof, a punchline."^[41] Kotaku's Kirk Hamilton asserted that she is "easily the most iconic Overwatch hero," in addition to calling her his favorite character.^[42] Tracer's popularity compared to the other characters has had unintended effects for Blizzard; "Overwatch" related searches boosted by 817% on Pornhub after the game's open beta went live, with "Overwatch Tracer" being the top search term related to the game.^[43][44] Discontent with this fan-generated porn, Blizzard made efforts to remove it.^[45][46] Kotaku noted that Japanese gamers positively received Overwatch, finding the characters cute, especially Tracer and Mei.^[47]

On her gameplay mechanics, Inquisitr expressed that her "quick and evasive ways make her an annoyance to deal with."^[25] ESPN described her as "the classic in-and-out harasser," referring to her speed and her ability to blink and recall; the outlet also reported that "she was used a lot more before a health nerf late in the beta."^[6] Mike Minotti of VentureBeat opined that "Tracer [is] a lot of fun to play. Her whole teleporting/rewinding mechanics [are] so unique and fast-paced. I feel like [Blizzard's] done a great job making a varied, relatively balanced cast."^[39]

References