Written by Tanner Banks, April 27, 2016, at 4:39 p.m.
“Tony to Tanner in the corner! BAAAANG! It’s going into overtime!”
I’m not going to lie, I’m still coming off the high of sinking a buzzer beater in Rocket League: Hoops, so excuse me if I sound biased. But oh, my gosh, Psyonix, you’ve knocked it out of the park. No wait, wrong sport…
Rocket League: Hoops Is a Slam Dunk
With the NBA playoffs in full swing, Rocket League go another update that added another game mode. This time, it’s Hoops, a spin on the game where instead of playing soccer (sorry, futbol) using cars with rockets strapped to their backs, it’s basketball using cars with rockets strapped to their backs. And while it isn’t quite nothing but net, it’s still a solid jumper from the wing.
Rocket League: Hoops mode is a variation of doubles with two teams defending their own hoop. The hoop itself is very wide, taking up about half the width of the back end of the court. To score players need to get the ball through the top of the hoop however they can. One really cool aspect to this is the fact that the “net” keeps the ball from going underneath, but both teams can move underneath freely. I’ve already had some sick ass saves thanks to this mechanic and I’ve lost some goals to it as well…
The map feels a lot smaller than the other maps in terms of length, with such a large scoring radius it might just feel that way, but I’m honestly not sure. The game stresses tight turns and precise controls, while using a feather touch to score. And that is not a great thing in my opinion. It feels a lot less user friendly than in normal mode or hockey mode.
It feels like it was deliberately made for the advanced users. It might not have, but the walls and the backboard are very hard, so many shots that would normally bounce off with a little less force, are rocketed (heh) to the other side. I’m not saying everything needs to be made of marshmallow but softening the glass just a little bit would be an improvement in my opinion.
The map aside, hoops is a jolly good time though. It’s definitely still Rocket League but it has a very… different feel to it. It’s less about beating the shit out of your opponents for the clear away goal, and more about finesse. Tony and I still focused on blasting opponents out of the way, but we couldn’t hit a layup the same way Shaq can’t hit a freethrow.
The finesse comes right at the start with the tip-off. Unless you’re reeaally good at aerial blocks, you’ll want to at least go up and hit the ball, because it’s a straight shot in otherwise. The focus on aerials makes sense as well, since its official release in July, lower level players are playing at much higher levels than when it originally came out. Playing in the air seems to be the main way to play from what my teammate in my first Rocket League: Hoops game, $mitty, showed by wrecking the blue team 7-3 while I stayed planted on the ground.
Rocket League: Hoops is a lot like your first time playing Rocket League way back when. Confusing, disorienting, frustrating as hell, and oh so satisfying. If I were to equate this game to any team in the NBA right now, it’d be the Charlotte Hornets. The pieces are there, and it’s already really good, but there are some minor tweaks that could really be the difference. Psyonix is a really great group of developers who prove that you can update a game without it being a total cash grab. It’s exciting to see new content out and updates that really help the game out.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go send this baby into overtime…