Rematch is Amazing – Its Players Aren’t

Rematch is a fresh take on the Football genre and, like many people, I spent my Friday night checking it out. I was awful. Luckily the game itself was great.

But as much fun as I’m having, it hammered home a problem I have with a lot of online games: the players. No, I don’t mean when they’re obnoxious or annoying. I am old enough to have lived through the 360 generation. I played League of Legends for a bit.

The problem is this. Every time a new online game comes out and gets any kind of momentum, the permanently online ruin it for the rest of us. It happened with Evil Dead, it happened with Texas Chainsaw Massacre, it’s happening with Rematch.

For those who aren’t sure what I’m talking about, I’ll fill you in. Rematch is an online football game where you only control one character. The camera is behind the shoulder, there’s a variety of moves you can make. Think EA Sports FC meets Rocket League and you won’t be a million miles off. It has incredible potential for tactical gameplay and real teamwork.

So what do you get? In about 75% of matches, you get people who’d rather be playing on their own. They’ve seen the Tiktok videos, they’ve been playing constantly since release. These people want the world to know that they’re one of the best. They’re not. You lose every single time.

Or there’s the meme makers, the guys who want to kick the ball into their own net, or who tackle the ball from your feet so they can pass it to the opposite team. Funny, right?

Listen, people can play games how they want, but the longer it goes on, the more likely actual players are to leave in their droves.

Rewarding Wrong – Rematch

Because right now, some of these players are being rewarded for their bad behavior. Certainly those in the first batch. They’re chasing ahead to the top of the leader board, dropping the ball and leaving the goal because they can’t be bothered playing their part. The team doesn’t exist to them, and the game rewards them for it.

In fairness, this is down to a generous points system that wants you to interact fairly. You get points for passing, for scoring, for assists, for interceptions. You get points because all of these things are relatively risky. The controls are hard. Aiming is hard. You’re more likely to miss a pass than to try and run past an opposition player. The trick shots over or around are almost always going to be safer in expert hands.

And that’s the bit that needs ironing out. The developers need to find a way of either rewarding the risks more or punishing the showboating. Remove points from the goalkeepers who spend the game in the opposition’s half. Build up the potential that is so obviously here.

Rematch is a great game, and I’m having a lot fun with it. With not very much tweaking, it’s going to be something extremely special.