Rocket League Review
Posted: A year ago, last updated 6 weeks ago.
Author: @GeekDadGamer.
Overview
For children, the e-sports-style competition of online play is a big draw, but they will also enjoy playing with other family members in the same room. Young players will spend time practicing mechanics (ability to control the car on the ground and in the air), rotation (intelligent positioning in relation to tram mate and competitor cars), kick offs (racing to the ball at the start). They practice the mechanic side of the game using training packs to repeat hard manoeuvres.
To get started use the tutorial, free play modes and play with other family members. It will seem near impossible at first but with practice you can start to develop better control of the car and the ball.
Game Details
Tips
View our choice of games like Rocket League. This game is good if you want to:
- Take on a mountainous challenge
- Play BAFTA nominated games
- Harm no living thing
- Raise aspirations through esports
- Play PEGI 16 and 18 games but aren't old enough
- Combine dexterity and instincts
- Nourish youthful ambition
- Play together with one Joy-Con
- Connect and challenge friends
- Play with people on different systems
Commitment
Players: You can play with 4 players in the same room and up to 6 players online. 4 on the same console, although more advanced players compete as the sole player on their own console against online opponents. You can play in online games with up to 3 platyers on each side.
Cross-Play: You can play against people on different systems: Xbox One, Switch, PC and PS4.
Costs
Rocket League used to include "loot box" style items you paid to unlock, but this switched to Blueprint items that you can see before you purchase. You can purchase a premium Rocket Pass that unlocks content including new premium customizations, battle-cars and player banners. It also gives an XP Boosts to speed progression. You will need Xbox Live Gold (must be 18 to create, then configure family accounts for younger players) to play online with Xbox One. You will need Nintendo Online (must be 18 to purchase, but can be any age to use) to play online with Nintendo Switch. You will need PlayStation Plus (must be 18 to create, then create sub-accounts for younger players who need be set as 13 or older) to play online with PlayStation 4.
This game is free with Xbox Game Pass. This game is free with PlayStation Now.
Age Ratings
Accessibility
- Timewarp: When close to the ball the game slows down.
- Slomo: Reduces the overall speed of the game.
- Ball Max Speed | Slow: The ball moves slower.
- Ball Size: Make the ball larger and easier to hit.
- Boost Amount: Unlimited boost can make it easier if you struggle to collect in the game.
- Demolish: Turning this off reduces visual flashes from cars exploding and reduces stress level in the game.
Difficulty
How you can adjust the challenge of play, and assistance the game offers when you fail or get stuck.
Select Difficulty: Select difficulty from a range of presets.
Adjustable Between Levels: You can adjust the difficulty between levels/rounds.
Adjust Speed: Adjust the overall speed of the game, or rewind play for a second attempt, to ease reaction times.
Assistance
Assistance With Direction: Indication of where to go next with arrows, cookie trail and the like.
Practice Area: You can practice freely without opponents or time pressures.
Tutorials: There are helpful tutorials, instructions and tips.
Reading
How much reading or listening comprehension is required, and how accessible this is.
Simple Minimal Reading: Minimal reading is required.
Controls
How you control the game, different options for alternative inputs and whether you can remap these settings to suit your needs.
Multiple Buttons & Two Sticks: Can play with multiple buttons and two sticks.
Mouse And Keyboard
Keyboard Alone: Can play with just the keyboard.
Mouse and Keys: Can play with mouse and multiple keys.
Remap Controls
You can customise the controls for the game as follows:
Remap Buttons: Re-map all buttons/keys.
Swap Sticks: Swap the sticks over.
Remap Sticks: Remap the stick controls to buttons/keys.
Remap Mouse and Keyboard: Remap mouse and keyboard.
Invert X/Y Axis: You can invert the direction required to control looking and aiming.
Rapid Pressing Optional: Quick, repeated button pressing not required or can be skipped or disabled.
Vibration Optional: Controller vibration not used in the game or you can disable it.
Adjust Mouse/Stick Sensitivity, Deadzones and Thresholds: Adjust how sensitive mouse/stick controls are and the related deadzones and thresholds.
Image
How you can adjust the visuals to suit your needs, and offer additional information if you can't hear the game.
Visibility
Bright Colourful Palette: Game uses bright colours and is generally high contrast.
Large Game Elements: Game characters and other elements are large and distinguishable.
Visual Distractions
No Flashes: No flashing strobe effects or you can disable them.
No Screen Shake: No screen shake effect or this can be disabled.
Audio Cues for Visual Events: Audio is provided to indicate visual events.
Motion sickness friendly: Option to reduce motion sickness (motion blur, depth of field, field of vision).
Colour Options
Colourblind friendly: Game doesn’t rely on colour or can switch to colourblind friendly mode.
Colour adjustments: Adjust colours of characters or game elements for greater visibility
Head-Up-Display Visibility
Clear Interface: The game navigation, maps and information are clear to read, large or adjustable.
Adjust Head Up Display: Remove or resize head-up display to remove distraction and make more visible.
Audio
How you can adjust the audio of the game and whether audio cues compensate for aspects of the game that are hard to see.
Customise Audio Levels: Control volume levels of specific events and elements in the game.
Visual Depiction of Directional Audio: Indication on screen with arrows, icons, located colour splashes and the like, to show where directional audio for damage, footsteps, environmental or way-finding sounds are coming from.
Communication
How you can communicate with other players in the game and what options are available to customise and control this interaction.
Player-to-Player Communication
Preset Chat: Communicate with other players with word-less icons, sounds or preset phrases.
Text Chat: Chat to other players by typing text.
Voice Chat: Chat to other players by speaking with headset.
System Settings
Nintendo Switch has some built-in features, including a lockable zoom, that can be used on all games. Windows has extensive accessibility features. Some, like colour correction, work with games. Lots of accessibility software can be used with PC games, from voice recognition to input device emulators. PlayStation 4 has a range of accessibility settings. Some are system only, some work in games (invert colours and button mapping). Xbox One has a system features, the excellent co-pilot share controls mode and adaptive controller support for all games... read more about system accessibility settings.
Supported by PlayabilityInitiative and accessibility contributors: @GeekDadGamer
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