FewOverwatch 2heroes have been as divisive as Sombra, as Talon’s resident hacker had managed to split the community before she was even added to the original game. While interesting, Sombra’s ARG went on for a frustratingly long time, with countdown timers essentially building to more countdown timers until she was finally ready to be added. Since her debut, Sombra has generally been deemed an annoying character to play against, being truly oppressive in the early seasons ofOverwatch 2. Now, she is essentially unplayable in competitive play, as the addition of hero bans has seen players taking out their frustrations on Sombra, regardless of what their team composition is. However, even though many fans hate playing with and against her, nearly everyone loves Sombra’s personality.
Whether she is smarting off to Reaper, booping other heroes in the spawn room, or showing a soft side to Sigma, Sombra’s actual character is able to outshine how her gameplay regularly draws plenty of ire. This extends to her emotes, like the Reaper marionette, and her highlight intros, such as the “Hacking” option that sees her stealing someone else’sPlay of the Game. While the hilarity of this trolling has made this the go-to Sombra highlight intro for years, Season 17’s meme-inspired entry gives it some competition. Said highlight intro sees a grainy VHS filter applied as Sombra works on a computer before staring into the camera and giving a thumbs up, and she’s just the latest in a string of video game icons to pay tribute to the same internet gag.
What is Sombra’s Season 17 Highlight Intro Referencing?
Overwatch 2fans who don’t immediately recognize the “That’s Rad” highlight intro need look no further than the name Brent Rambo for context. Per Know Your Meme, this beloved internet figure achieved fame because of an Apple promotional video from the 1990s. Just likeSombradoes in her highlight intro, the young Rambo reacts to something on the screen, turns to the camera, and gives a thumbs up alongside a reaction of approval. His name also appears in the corner of the screen. While this video is three decades old, it wasn’t until the 2010s that the meme took off, as it began to rapidly spread across the internet due to it being a perfect response on social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit.
Sombra’s “That’s Rad” Highlight intro can be acquired throughOverwatch 2’s Season 17Battle Pass. Specifically, it’s unlocked at Tier 4 and is part of the premium track of rewards.
Overwatch 2’s “Computer Kid” Tribute Isn’t Gaming’s Only Connection to the Meme
With how iconic this meme has become, it’s no wonder that the internet has swapped out Brent Rambo for its favorite characters. Video game fan bases in particular have run wild with the meme, with two standout examples being theMetal Gear Solidfranchiseand theGod of Warseries. In the case of the former, around the time ofMetal Gear Solid 5’s release,Ground Zeroes’ version of Naked Snake - AKA Big Boss - was swapped in for the Computer Kid. He has the exact same thumbs-up reaction and turns to the camera just like Brent Rambo did, with the Big Boss name even popping up in the bottom corner of the GIF as a fun little touch.
In the case ofGod of War’s version, instead of Kratos being the star of the show, it is his sonAtreus. This is perhaps an even better rendition of the meme than theMetal Gearone, as theGod of War2018 model for Atreus is roughly the same age as the original Computer Kid. Though it may be odd to see someone from Norse Mythology interacting with technology from the real world, it is entertaining nonetheless, with the thumbs-up and look on Atreus’ face making for another great reaction GIF (the Norse lettering for his name is also a nice touch). What’s even funnier is that Santa Monica developers were responsible for this particular GIF, as well as many other recreations of viral images, showing just how important meme culture has become to the internet as a whole.
While Sombra may be a bit older than the Computer Kid, her hacker status makes her a terrific choice for this funnyOverwatch 2highlight intro. Since it can be assumed Sombra is watching and reacting to her own flashy gameplay, the intro is basically a fourth-wall break, making it even more humorous. Not only does it continue Blizzard’s history ofpop culture references inOverwatch 2,but the “That’s Rad” intro might just go on to be a genuine highlight of the season for players who spend a lot of time browsing the internet.
