When you were young, did your mother say to you, “Don’t sit too close to the TV or you will damage your eyes?” At the time, that warning seemed like something an overly cautious parent would say. As a 90s kid, I heard this statement far too often, but TVs were bulkier then and the picture was controlled by a tube that would create a fuzzy image. Little did we know that there was a scientific reason for parental warning based on experience and science. Nowadays, we know that staring at a bright screen for hours on end can damage your eyes and lead to you needing glasses.
At PAX East 2020, I met with Gunnar to talk with them about their glasses designed specifically for gaming. Although they had been in the market for years, they were advertising how the new pair of Gunnar glasses could be worn for everyday wear. Over the years, Gunnar has collaborated with different Franchises including Assassin’s Creed, Call of Duty Black Ops, The Division, and Overwatch. Today, we will look at the Overwatch 2 x Gunnar Reaper Glasses.
Overwatch 2 x Gunnar Reaper Glasses
Manufacturer: Gunnar
Price: $69
Despite Overwatch‘s decline in popularity over the last few years, the Blizzard developers have recently been trying to improve the game and listen to their community; this is partially due to the adherent success of Marvel Rivals, but it is still a step in the right direction.
These new glasses are designed with the goal of embodying the former commander of Blackwatch in mind. When you think of Overwatch, Reaper is arguably one of the first 10 characters you will think of; in fact, he might be in the top 5 behind Mercy, DVA, Widowmaker, and Tracer. His edgy personality, guns blasting mentality, and Beyblade ultimate, made players fall in love with the character.
Now, Gunnar has created a pair of glasses that allow Overwatch fans to channel their love of Reaper.
When you open up the Overwatch 2 x Gunnar Reaper Glasses kit, it comes with a Reaper-themed eyeglasses wipe, an Overwatch cloth case, and the Overwatch 2 Gunnar Reaper Glasses.
The glasses are a thick polymer that can bend slightly to help fit your face, however, they do not snap when extended out of their normal range. The frame is sturdy and even high amounts of pressure do not cause them to break.
If you have never used a pair of Gunnars before, they can be life savers if you have to look at a screen a lot throughout the day. The lens helps to reduce the amount of light that your eyes take in. If you have get migraines easily, Gunnars can be a lifesaver. The frame is reminiscent of a pair of sunglasses that you would get on vacation.
When wearing traditional over-the-ear headphones, the glasses can get uncomfortable after an hour or two. If you are playing using earbuds instead, then they can be on your head for quite a while without issue.
While testing out the Overwatch 2 x Gunnar Reaper Glasses with Bluetooth earbuds, we were able to wear them for eight hours straight while doing a gaming marathon.
Below are the Overwatch 2 x Gunnar Reaper Glasses description and product details from the Gunnar website.
The shadows coalesce. Introducing Overwatch® 2 x GUNNAR Reaper glasses, a matte black, precision-engineered polymer material sculpted into a brutally rectangular military-style frame.
Highly wrapped for full coverage and emblazoned with Reaper’s iconic logo, you’ll feel instantly prepared for the digital battlefield. Multi-barrel hinges provide a comfortable fit while GUNNAR’s advanced lens technology destroys digital eye strain whether on video calls or epic kill streaks in your favorite shooter. Officially licensed custom pouch and microfiber cloth all feature the legendary Overwatch hero.
As someone who loved the Gunnar Maverick glasses and used to love Overwatch, I was definitely interested in checking out the Overwatch 2 x Gunnar Reaper Glasses. While the glasses have a sleek and sturdy design, they did get uncomfortable after a bit of time when wearing them with my Hyper X Cloud headset.
With the Mavericks, the framing can fit around the headset without too much pinching. Ultimately, it comes down to what you are using with it and how big your head is as well. If you are using earbuds then they can be quite useful.
Personally, if you are looking for a pair of glasses to help lessen the Blue Light strain then it is worth picking up a pair of Gunnars. The Reaper pair is visually pleasing, but with Overwatch 2 on the way out, it feels more like a nostalgic pair of glasses versus something to connect you with the game. They could be a good collectors item down the line if you do not feel like using them for their intended use.
Overwatch 2 x Gunnar Reaper Glasses were provided to Niche Gamer for review purposes. You can find additional information about Niche Gamer’s review/ethics policy here.
