Rocket League (XB1) Review

Soccer cars.

We never got around to covering Rocket League when it hit PS4 and PC last year. In fact, I never even booted up the game until months after I redeemed my free copy on PS Plus. Once I finally succumbed to the pressure of everyone telling me how great it was, I was a believer. Rocket League is one of the most accessible and addictive multiplayer games ever crafted, and now Xbox One owners can finally see what all the fuss is about.

Rocket League is an extremely simplistic premise that just works. Players take control of a car and attempt to slam a giant soccer ball into a goal. That’s it. What makes it work though is how intuitive the controls are, and how satisfying it is to play. Scoring a goal is intoxicating. I have no idea why it works as well as it does, but it just works.

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MSRP: $19.99
Platforms: XB1, PS4, PC
Price I’d Pay: $19.99
Multiplayer: 1-4

The Xbox One version is pretty much a carbon copy of the PS4 and PC entries with a few console-specific skins for the cars. Sunset Overdrive and of course Halo make an appearance, and are a nice touch, but this is still the same game most played last year. This is not designed for double-dipping.

The beauty of why Rocket League works is in its design. There are infinite options for how to play. There is a season mode with an adjustable amount of games. Car customization is off the charts with plenty of cosmetic options, and even playing locally and online will fit everyone’s needs. Players can opt to play solo, with up to three friends, against AI-controlled opponents, or humans, or even a mix of both. The AI is also challenging enough to keep players on their toes on the harder difficulties.

What keeps me playing though is how intricate the game actually is. On the surface it is simple to do really interesting maneuvers, but once I got the finesse of the game, it becomes so much more. I highly recommend taking the advanced tutorial once getting the hang of the game, there is a lot beneath the surface that really fleshes out how finely tuned this game really is.

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None of this would work without great control, and Psyonix has mastered the craft. For those that don’t know this is not the developer’s first attempt at making sports with cars. Their previous effort Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle Cars (say that three times fast) was a similar title that simply didn’t capture the sheer joy Rocket League does. They definitely learned from that experience, and thus their latest effort is about to as close to flawless as far as controls are concerned as you can get.

Rocket League lives up to the hype surrounding it. For Xbox One players who have been envious of PS4 and PC players, your moment is here. Everything works even when it shouldn’t, and the game provides hours of entertainment. Solo it is fun, with friends it is a blast. This is not a title to miss.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Good
  • Controls are sublime
  • Super addictive
  • Simplistic and deep at the same time
Bad
  • Formula can wear thin quickly
8.5
Great
Written by
Ken is the Editor-in-Chief of this hole in the wall and he loves to troll for the fun of it. He also enjoys long walks through Arkham Asylum and the cool air of Shadow Moses Island. His turn-ons include Mortal Kombat, Metal Gear Solid and StarCraft.