Dodgeball has been blasted into the future in this action-packed online multiplayer showdown. The question is, does it have enough to provide a knockout blow?
About
A game that packs a punch, Knockout City is a multiplayer experience where players battle it out in futuristic settings.
With heavy influences from both Rocket League and Fortnite, this game introduces a Dodgeball variant to the online multiplayer games catalogue.
The game was developed by Velan Studios and by Electronic Arts as an ‘EA Original’. Knockout City was released on 21st May 2021 for Windows, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.
Currently still in it’s first season, the game has received a score of 83 on Metacritic (Xbox One). Link: https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-one/knockout-city
Gameplay
The aim of the game is to knock out your opponents a number of times in order to win the round. After a team wins a certain number of rounds, they win the match.
Each player has two lives until they are knocked out, but players will respawn immediately. This avoids players waiting in lobbies or leaving.
At its core, the gameplay is a simple run, jump, catch, and throw mechanic. There are a few advanced moves that change the direction of throws and defensive actions such as dodging.
However, the most unique and surprising element to this game is the ‘Ball Up’ mechanic. This allows players to roll into a ball shape so that team-mates can then pick them up and throw them at opposition players. Utilising ‘Ball Ups’ effectively results in an instant KO but don’t let the other team get a hold of you!
The game also provides a variety of game modes and match types. Some elements are more permanent fixtures whilst others rotate for limited time events.
Knockout City provides both competitive and casual modes for players to enjoy. The competitive system rewards players for climbing up the ranks of the league system. Casual matches are wackier whilst still providing XP so players can level up and earn rewards.
The different types of matches found in Knockout City helps to spice things up after a few games. Lots of these types will change the number of participants such as 3vs3, 4vs4, and free-for-all.
However, some limited events will alter the objectives. For example, coin hoarders encourages players to collect all the available coins. This forces players to attack in order to obtain opposition coins whilst defending their own coins.
Another variable that is changed in almost every game is the special ball. These items have unique abilities that alter the way in which a player may KO an opponent. For example, the Cage Ball will trap an opponent in a cage when hit, allowing you to throw them at other players or off the map.
Characters + Customisation
The customisation is where this game thrives. Customisation options offer players the chance to alter their character’s appearance, outfit, and animations.
Players can change their character’s face, eyes, and hairstyle. Outfits, glasses, and gloves can be equipped to showcase your style. Other options such as winning animations and gliders add extra flair to your gameplay.
Crew options expand the customisation, allowing crews to change their vehicle, banner, and logo.
Items can be obtained by either buying them via the store or earning them through levelling up. The benefit of this game is that all items in the store can be purchased with in-game credit. No microtransactions!
My Experience
On my Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/theallstargameral/), I posted my first impressions of the game during the opening weekend. During this time, the game captivated me with its simple mechanics and fast-paced gameplay.
However, a hiccup the game faced was with the lack of variety of game modes. At the time, there were only a few casual options which lacked any real creativity. As the game has progressed, more variety has been introduced which has definitely given the game some much needed depth.
After my first impressions, Knockout City has been a game that I have frequently returned to. The short and action-packed matches provide the perfect opportunity for a small dose of fun between daily tasks.
Similar to Rocket League, this is not the type of game I would spend all day playing. Instead, it is much more enjoyable when played for shorter periods of time because it avoids the experience feeling repetitive.
Rating
My overall rating for Knockout City is 4 out of 5 Stars.
The game provides a chaotic and intense dodgeball experience with a vast array of customisation.
Its simple game mechanics makes the skills easy to learn but difficult to master.
Although the game is still young and has plenty of promise, the current game requires some more creativity and diversity in order to reach the pinnacle of online multiplayer gaming.
Where to Get It
Knockout City is available for download on a variety of different platforms. The game can be found on Steam, Epic, PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo platforms.
Current retail pricing is approximately £17.99.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and EA Play customers can download the game for free with their membership.
For more information, visit: https://www.ea.com/games/knockout-city
Comments