From humble origins as an under-appreciated indie game on the PS3, to a global phenomenon that has recently been officially declared an e-sport, Rocket League is the big sleeper hit of 2015. Normally, when you mention cars and football, it evokes unpleasant images of boozey, testosterone-fuelled weekends in the pub with the lads, talking about the 'big game' on the weekend, and how great it is to finally get away from the 'missus'. But by some kind of benevolent magic, that is completely not the spirit of Rocket League, even though you do drive rocket-powered cars around a pitch in an attempt to knock a giant ball into the opposing team's goal. It's such a simple premise, and yet when you first play it you'll find the gameplay incredibly disorienting. If you're in goal and the ball is floating down from the ceiling towards you, you'll react to it with the same kind of panic you'd feel if the moon was crashing to the Earth. You'll scuff open-goal opportunities, and find yourself unable to bring the ball under control even though it's right next to you. But once things start clicking for you - and they soon will - then you'll quickly come to appreciate the game's beauty. Cosmetics aside, there are no upgrades or abilities for you to earn, so each game you play is defined purely by your skill level. Matches are nail-biting five-minute affairs, and can be played online with up to four people playing locally. The learning curve isn't huge but the skill ceiling is incredibly high, which is why Rocket League's been embraced as a widely-watched e-sport. Whether you manage to sit down for five minutes or three hours with Rocket League, you'll likely go through an emotional rollercoaster of intense matches, all the while making little improvements to your game that feel like you're constantly honing a fine craft.
Gamer, Researcher of strange things.
I'm a writer-editor hybrid whose writings on video games, technology and movies can be found across the internet. I've even ventured into the realm of current affairs on occasion but, unable to face reality, have retreated into expatiating on things on screens instead.
