Several years ago now, a little indie game called Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battlecars came out for the PS3. It was a game in which two teams of cars tried hitting a giant floaty ball into each other's goals. The gameplay was skilful and highly addictive, but the game just didn't leave a massive impact. In 2015, that game's sequel, Rocket League, was released with very little hype or build-up, but ended up being the sleeper hit of the year. It transcended its role as a casual indie game, and within a few months of its release became a cultural phenomenon and E-sport. The magic of Rocket League is that, like a professional sport, it's mechanically simple. There are a few buttons, and your objective is to 'Hit Big Ball Into Goal'. Anyone can play it casually, but to play it well takes training and dedication, because the skill ceiling is one of the highest in any game out there. If you play Rocket League, then going on YouTube and admiring its best goals is like a casual football fan watching Match of The Day's Goal of the Month. Rocket League is more than a game, it's a craft and a sport, and it's going to join the likes of Team Fortress and Counter-Strike in becoming a timeless mainstay of the medium.
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.
