There are games that receive near universal acclaim. Often, they’re platformers or open-world games like Super Mario Bros. , Grand Theft Auto , or Skyrim . You expect that sort of reception from them, because they manage to do something right with game design. You don’t expect that from Rocket League , an indie game that involves remote-control cars playing soccer. Yet here we are, with Rocket League being one of the most beloved multiplatform games at the moment.
It’s something you have to play to understand. Because otherwise, you’re going to see people driving cars at balls and wondering why everyone’s raving about it. Just watching a trailer or live stream will convey the impression that it’s pretty, but not the excitement that comes from playing Rocket League.
Once you actually play Rocket League , everything becomes clear. Looking at it makes it seem like it’s just a variation of soccer. Hopping in allows you to see delicate nuances. There are elements of physics games, since you can do incredible things with your cars with enough momentum and experimentation. There are racing elements, due to the levels of speed you can achieve when dashing around the tracks. There’s a sense of community, as a match becomes about us versus them. And, yes, there’s soccer. The execution allows someone to enjoy different elements of gameplay, rather than sending a car continually after a ball.
Except now that the game is in its prime, Rocket League isn’t only offering a soccer experience. There’s a Hockey mode already available and a Hoops mode on the way, recreating hockey and basketball within the game. If you’re in a private match, you can tweak the rules, changing the behavior of the ball, to completely alter the manner in which a game is played. It’s flexible in a way many other games aren’t, allowing people who might not have exactly what they want to get the experience they need.
Psyonix’s behavior helps too. The developer is constantly working to make Rocket League better and add elements that weren’t there before, so people can do more things with their matches and cars. Because of Psyonix, you can play it seriously or completely switch things up for a more whimsical experience. You can play soccer, or go ahead and try other sports. The developer keeps supporting you and whatever it is you might want to do.
We need more games like Rocket League; we need titles that blur the lines . Rocket League gives you the freedom to enjoy the game however you’d like, with the rulesets, modes, and people you want to be with. You can make it as competitive or amusing as you’d like, get serious or laugh it off, and stick to the ground or take flight. Rocket League is the best, and more games and developers should aspire to be like it and Psyonix.