[Mobile Games] Rocket League analysis: Sideswipe, two dimensions, same fun (iPhone, Android)

[@CharliAviless]

Not many will remember Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars, the title released for PlayStation 3, but if we say Rocket League... things change. The Psyonix game has been a true revelation that since its debut more than six years ago has only grown, and now, with the financial support of the acquisition by Epic Games, it will continue looking for new fronts for those to expand. The first stop: mobiles.

Same formula, new dimension
Rocket League: Sideswipe is a sports and driving game that, like its big brother, combines rocket-jumping cars and a kind of soccer. It is completely oriented to play over the internet, in this case, with games for two or four players in 1 vs. 1 or 2 vs. 2 matches. It is possible to play solo against bots, but they are training matches that do not serve to progress; simply, as its own name indicates, to practice. The main change, yes, is the move to two dimensions, which requires obvious changes in its gameplay to work.

Although it may seem like a simplification of the formula, Rocket League: Sideswipe is still very deep. It may sound silly, but Psyonix has done a fantastic job implementing these changes, and I appreciate that they went to the trouble of making a new game rather than just porting the desktop game to mobile, which might work. in most current terminals. Thus, Rocket League: Sideswipe is a completely new game, designed so that it can be played with our two thumbs and nothing else, although it is perfectly compatible with a controller.

This new installment focuses more on mastering the flight, something that is "advanced" level in the main game. Being of two-dimensional movement, our position on the vertical axis becomes more important, but only being able to move in two dimensions also makes it easier to fly. In addition, the turbo now automatically regenerates whenever we have the wheels glued to a surface (ceiling included), so we will not lack turbo to fly. There has also been more emphasis on timing when hitting the jumping ball, as in the air the cars give the ball less momentum.

The goals, being high, also enhance the gameplay designed around flight, since to score you have to lift the ball and to defend you have to be in the air. In general, they are small big changes that promote the dynamism of the games, and that constantly force us to look for the best position on the pitch. Note that the "Hoops" mode is also available, which is the basketball version, although it seemed to us that the transition to 2D is not as good as the main mode.

https://vandal.elespanol.com/analisis/iphone/rocket-league-sideswipe/111086#p-71