Hanzo (Overwatch)

Hanzo
Overwatch character
Hanzo from Overwatch
First gameOverwatch (2016)
Designed byArnold Tsang[1]
Voiced by
In-universe information
ClassDamage
WeaponYumi and ya
NationalityJapanese

Hanzo Shimada (シマダ・ハンゾー, Shimada Hanzō) is a playable character appearing in the 2016 video game Overwatch, a first-person shooter video game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. Outside of Overwatch, Hanzo also appears in related media, which includes animated shorts and webcomics, as well as a playable character in the crossover multiplayer online game Heroes of the Storm. He appeared again in Overwatch 2, a 2022 sequel to the original game.

The character is Japanese and the eldest brother of fellow playable character, Genji. The two brothers belonged to the Shimada clan, a fictional Japanese crime family. In his backstory, Hanzo was forced by the clan's elders to kill Genji. The dutiful but heartbroken Hanzo subsequently denounced his family and fled Japan to travel the world, seeking redemption from the actions of his past. In-game, he is classified as a damage character with a high difficulty ranking. He is an archer whose abilities include firing rapid bursts of arrows to engage high priority targets and jumping forward, as well as revealing the location of enemy players.

Hanzo has been well received by critics and fans alike, with praise being directed towards his character arc involving his brother, design, and abilities. However, reviewers have also noted the character requires practice in order to be used effectively in the game.

  1. ^ Burns, Matt (October 24, 2017). Simpson, Robert; Gary, Cate; Monahan, Allison (eds.). The Art of Overwatch Limited Edition. Dark Horse Comics. p. 34. ISBN 9781506705538.
  2. ^ "『オーバーウォッチ』日本語版の担当声優が公開。乃村健次さん、伊藤静さん、種田梨沙さんら21名". dengekionline.com (in Japanese). April 15, 2016. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  3. ^ Francisco, Eric (July 2, 2020). "Asian-American actors reveal why video games can create change faster than movies or TV". Inverse. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.