Rematch is an online multiplayer soccer/football game developed by Slocap and published by Kepler Interactive. Slocap are known for their development of the game Sifu a hand-to-hand combat driven martial arts game that was nominated for best fighting game, best action game, and best indie game at the 2022 Game Awards. It was also ranked highly in the top 10 best games of 2022 here mxdwn. This time Slocap is bringing its talent into the world of sports by utilizing the human-like flexible movement and quick reaction time, and bringing it into the world of soccer.
Soccer is a simple yet highly interactive team-oriented game which involves a large amount of precise tactical teamplay, fast-paced individual actions, and nearly constant pressure where if the wrong move is played then it could either lead to the greatest high or the most soul crushing blow, depending on whose team the player is rooting for. With Rematch, Slocap‘s goal was to capture those same core principles and apply them to their game. Meaning that everything from offensive positions to defensive positions, every action needs to count. From fairly punishing players who make mistakes on the field to making sure that every individual skill and opportunity needs to be necessary, but never sufficient. Bottom line is the game needs to be well-balanced and fair while also punishing players into pushing themselves further into becoming better Soccer players overtime. With all that in mind, it is clear that Slocap is more than capable of taking on the task and delivering, what seems to be no doubt, a very fun Soccer game.
From the very beginning of the game, players are thrust into a third-person perspective that puts players right onto the field for nonstop competitive play. Players take control of a customizable character and compete against other players in four available game modes: 3v3. 4v4, 5v5, and ranked 5v5 for an intense showdown. Players are also capable of choosing from a variety of quickplay modes. Each mode requires a wide range of evolving tactics and decisions to fit the moment-to-moment needs of each match. Much like Soccer in real life, precision is everything. One thing that was made clear very early on is that there aren’t any assists or player stats; every action made by the player is fully manual, meaning that nothing is automatically done for the player it’s only manual inputs, both mechanical such as button formatting and input controls and tactical play which is how they respond quickly to what’s going on during each match, all of these skills will make the real difference in the game of Rematch. The game requires precise aiming and shooting. Some shots can be made by aiming with the right stick and launching the ball with the right trigger, while others involve simply passing the ball in any direction by pressing the X button for Xbox or the Square button for PlayStation while aiming with the left stick, utilizing a quickfire mechanic. This can serve as a method for passing the ball to other players or, of course, launching it directly towards the goal. It is also important to note that every match has a barrier that prevents players from stepping off the field while also preventing fouls, so there are no penalties, offside, or even breaks so players won’t have to worry about accidentally kicking balls anywhere besides the goal. There are three positions that players can switch between: attacker, defender, and goalkeeper. These positions are perfect for 3v3 matches, as two players can be on the field while the final player protects their goal.
When it comes to how fluid everything comes together, Rematch excels in both the smoothness of the gameplay and the stability of the connection when playing with multiple players. Results may vary depending on people’s internet, but so far there haven’t been any noticeable stability issues. However, one element that could become problematic if left not handled properly is a lack of casual content, but since the post-launch content of Rematch is season-based with Season 0 being the starting season at launch it should be fine as long as there is a steady flow of fun content and quality of life changes that players can enjoy aside from cosmetics.
Overall Rematch is already starting off on the right track in terms of gameplay. It will take a lot of work to keep a consistent player base, but I have faith that Slocap is more than capable of the task at hand. With time there is a high possibility that Rematch can become a very popular Soccer game.
Overall Score: 8 out of 10
Reviewed on PC