Rocket League

It goes without saying when playing a new game, you have to learn the features. Rocket League in particular is very different to other esports and popular game titles. It’s a mix of racing and ball sports so has some unique features and factors to consider. Practice mode is of course handy for learning and trying different things in the game.

You can customize camera settings and each player tends to have a different preference for settings that gives them the best view for them. It’s possible to change your field of view, the distance of the camera from your car as well as the angle of the camera and other settings.

There are obvious features of the game like boost and jumping which give you advantages but there is also the mechanics of the car to help, like the handbrake which you can use to drift and spin into position.

Moving on to positioning, this is one of the vital aspects of the game that will help you score goals and defeat opponents. When you are playing as a team it is not all about going straight for the ball, and the score. Your team will score more goals overall with good positioning, lining each other up for shots. If a teammate is in a better position to take a shot, let them, just like with traditional sports.

For good positioning in Rocket League you need great game awareness. In such a fast-paced game this is a skill that can take a little time to build. If you can achieve this, you and your teammates will be able to line each other up with excellent shots and defend quickly leading to far more victories. It is important in Rocket League to understand where your teammates are, how your team needs to use each other to score, when a good time to pass is, and even how to use more complex passes like playing the back board.

Playing the backboard is just one trick or tactic in Rocket League and it is used frequently but can be an unanticipated move to get an advantage on your opposing team. If you find you are at the front of play with no one to pass forward to you can flick the ball from the backboard, perhaps confusing opponents and creating an opportunity for an easier goal.

There are lots of tricks and techniques to learn in Rocket League, including using boosts, powershots, aerials and air dribbles as well as how to demolish your opponents. Aerial manoeuvres are more complex to perform and it may takes hours of play to even begin to use them, but they are well worth mastering.

Rocket League is absolutely a team game. If you have friends that play it is great to pair up frequently and really learn to work together, you will make an invincible team compared to opponents who aren’t used to playing together. That said, if you are paired with random players in a match you can still quickly work out how to play together by using your game awareness, positioning and passing.