Highlights

  • Mauga, the new Tank hero in Overwatch 2, has authentic and culturally significant Samoan voice lines, reflecting his heritage.
  • Detailed attention to pronunciation and contextual meaning adds depth to Mauga's character and enhances the overall gaming experience.
  • Mauga's voice lines, such as "SE'I KOE IKIIKI" and "TULOU LAVA," showcase respect, persuasion, and politeness, contributing to an immersive portrayal of his personality.

In the wake of Blizzard's electrifying BlizzCon 2023 presentation, the Overwatch community found itself immersed in the thrilling world of Overwatch 2, thanks to the unveiling of the enigmatic Tank hero, Mauga. With Mauga poised to join the permanent roster of Overwatch 2 heroes when Season 8 debuts on December 5, eager fans are now turning their attention to an unexpected aspect of this new hero, his intriguing voice lines.

Mauga's entry into the Overwatch universe was foreshadowed in the Baptiste short story, "What You Left Behind." Despite leaked details about Mauga's abilities prior to BlizzCon 2023, the event marked the first in-game showcase of his capabilities. Mauga is armed with two distinct chainguns, one for incendiary damage and the other for precision shooting. His Ultimate ability, "Cage Fight," deploys a formidable fighting ring, granting him a critical advantage in close combat scenarios.

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Samoan Overwatch 2 Player Provides Insights into Mauga's Voice Lines

Additionally, the developers of Overwatch 2 revealed the origin story trailer for Mauga, showcasing his Samoan heritage. In a Reddit post, a Samoan player discusses Mauga's voice lines, highlighting their authenticity, pronunciation, and contextual meaning within the game. The correct pronunciation of Mauga's name, which means "Mountain" in Samoan, is "Muh-oo-ga" with a soft "g" sound. This pronunciation is significant to acknowledge his Samoan heritage accurately. One of Mauga's voice lines, "SE'I KOE IKIIKI," translates to "just a little longer" and is usually used to persuade someone to invest more time into something. While it may not seem like a typical battle cry, the addition of "SE" at the beginning of the phrase gives it a desperate, snarky tone, adding depth to Mauga's character.

Overwatch 2 Tank hero Mauga's charging voice line, "La maua atu oe," means "I'm about to get you" and is pronounced as "La-mauwa-atu-oe." Although the emphasis on certain words may be slightly off, the line still effectively conveys the intended context in the game. Another line, "TULOU LAVA," which means "EXCUSE ME" and is pronounced as "Too-lou lava," is used when Mauga charges into a crowd, politely excusing himself. This particular line resonates with the player due to its authentic representation and its reflection of the Samoan culture, where "tulou" is a sign of respect when passing in front of people.

The Reddit post underscores the meticulous attention to detail and authenticity in Mauga's Samoan voice lines in Overwatch 2, contributing to a more immersive and respectful portrayal of his character and background. While Mauga undoubtedly stands as a formidable character, it's important to acknowledge that Blizzard has also unveiled clear counters to this new Tank hero in Overwatch 2.