Rematch review – The arcade soccer game you’ve been waiting for

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Rematch stands out as an excitingly engaging and hard-to-resist multiplayer sports game, poised for greatness with some tweaks, potentially challenging the popularity of Rocket League, regardless of your love for football (or soccer).

Sports games in arcades can be tricky to perfect, but when they’re executed flawlessly, they’re hard to best. For the past ten years, Rocket League has been leading the pack with minimal competition, largely due to its unique combination of soccer and high-speed automobiles.

If you’re someone who prefers traditional, tactical gameplay and has been longing for a title that emphasizes the beauty of soccer, then Rematch is tailored just for you.

Even in its relatively basic initial release, I can confidently say that Slopclap has created an instant success with room for further development.

Rematch screenshots

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What is Rematch? 

In “Rematch,” you step into the role of an individual on a team of three, four, or five players in a competitive football game that pits teams against each other. Each match lasts for six minutes, and unlike traditional games where positions are set, your role is fluid as you control one player throughout the game.

By doing so, it mirrors the excitement of 5-a-side play because you could switch from defending to attacking in an instant and score a stunning goal one moment, and then be the goalkeeper the next, as you are the first or sole teammate in the penalty area.

Instant impact 

When you first start playing Rematch, the controls might seem unfamiliar, particularly if you’ve been accustomed to EA FC for many years. However, after a few games, the initially tricky dribbling and shooting become second nature, offering a satisfyingly straightforward experience, much like breaking in a new pair of Adidas F50s.

In a similar vein to Rocket League, its streamlined controls and basic moves make it effortless for beginners to grasp, yet as I delve deeper, I uncover intricate combos that challenge even the most skilled players, leaving me feeling like the legendary Lionel Messi when I execute a stunning goal into the top corner.

Discovering clever methods to employ these restricted resources to bypass tough opponents is consistently rewarding, be it sending a ball off the backboard for an assist, or utilizing a strategically timed “Extra Effort” – a swift run initiated with a double-tap of acceleration – to dash past defenders at opportune instances.

As an enthusiastic player, I’ve found that my initial matches can quickly devolve into a frenzy, with everyone darting after the ball like scatterbrained chickens. However, it doesn’t take long to grasp the importance of teamwork and clear communication in achieving success, particularly in the more challenging Ranked mode.

As a gamer, I find it’s most fun when I play with a crew of pals, using mics to coordinate our strategies. The top teams are those who structure themselves into distinct roles. For instance, I excel in the defensive position, where I use tactical tackles at opportune moments and send precise passes upfield for my teammates with superior technical skills to capitalize on and score goals.

It’s great that efforts like passes, tackles, and saves also contribute to points in the standings, not just goals and assists. This means that teamwork is actively promoted rather than just focusing on scoring goals alone.

If you’re accustomed to Psyonix’s rocket-powered soccer game, it’s no surprise that playing it is incredibly enjoyable. I’ve found myself uttering those well-known phrases, “just one more game,” even after a heartbreaking last-minute defeat. Before you realize it, five hours have passed, and you’re still there, experiencing the pain of defeat and the thrill of victory.

A few tweaks to the system 

Initially, Rematch offers the intense, unbridled chaos you’d expect from an arcade soccer game, but beware, it might consume your whole evening! With a few minor adjustments and enhancements, it has the potential to transform into something truly extraordinary.

Many of these changes are about enhancing game experience, for instance, allowing you to choose where you begin during a kick-off or after scoring a goal. Currently, this starting point shifts each time play resumes, which can be annoying when your goalkeeper, assigned position, ends up on the left wing, forcing everyone to rearrange quickly.

It seems like there’s a missing feature in not having a ping system in addition to the existing callouts. While it works well when everyone is using their microphones, it becomes a game of assumptions when playing with random players, as you can’t mark unidentified opponents or clearly indicate where the ball should be passed. This can make matches feel like a guessing game where we just hope that everyone is coordinated.

One issue that’s been raised is that the cosmetic prizes for playing aren’t really tempting enough. While there are plenty of options like shirts, shorts, shoes, and even artificial limbs to collect using in-game cash or real money, the current choices seem rather uninteresting.

Currently, the game’s main features – its competitive ranked system and the sense of accomplishment from climbing the ranks – are engaging enough. However, to ensure a lasting connection with players, these aspects should be further enhanced for added excitement over time.

Verdict 

Rematch is similar to the beautiful game in its simplicity and complexity. It’s simple to grasp the basics, yet mastery requires tireless practice. To reach the top, you need countless hours honing your skills. Each match, from start to finish, is thrilling, filled with triumphant cheers and nail-biting strategic confrontations that get your heart racing and palms sweating.

There are several key aspects that could make matching processes more seamless, and sometimes the payoff isn’t as exciting as one might hope. However, I am confident that these issues will be tackled and resolved in the future.

Rematch could potentially become the upcoming blockbuster multiplayer sensation, a game that will have you shouting at your friends for years. Rocket League, step aside – Rematch seems to be the high-energy soccer game we’ve all been anticipating.

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2025-06-19 17:49