French outfit Sloclap is no doubt a rising star in the games industry—something that is further evidenced by its recent, left-field soccer gameRematch. The game, which puts players in the shoes of a single athlete rather than an entire team, has been received warmly, despite a number of complaints about its technical issues. But even ifRematchisn’t perfect, it could still be enough to shake up the sports game market, which is sorely needed.
AAA sports games, generally speaking, have been stagnating for quite some time now. The leaders in this space, 2K and EA, effectively have the genre in an iron grip, with their only competition being themselves: there’s no real alternative toNBA 2KorEA Sports FC, likely because these companies have exclusive licensing rights for real teams. This has been fine for players interested in sports games as simulation-style experiences, ones wherein they can assume the role of their favorite players and teams, often with impressive graphics and physics to boot. But the lack of innovation in this field is becoming a bit startling, leaving an opening for smaller projects, likeRematch, to steal the show.
Rematch, and Games Like It, Should Put Some Pep in EA’s Step
Rematch Proves that Soccer Games Don’t Need To Be Shackled To One Style
In the modern age, the only real challenger forEA Sports FC’s now-splintered throne has beenKonami’seFootball—a franchise that is widely seen as inferior. There are myriad reasons for this, but one element ofeFootball’s fumbling reinforces the notion that audiences are getting burned out on the yearly sports game formula:eFootballhasn’t tried anything meaningfully new, offering the same microtransaction-ridden, glitchy, and uninspired gameplay experience as EA’sFIFAgames.
EnterRematch, a game with no real players or teams, and a loose relationship to both reality and the official rules of soccer/football. WhileRematchsucceedson the back of its tight controls and rewarding mechanics, not fundamentally unlike those seen in Sloclap’s other games, its ingenuity and newness play a role as well. The fact is, not everyone will be satisfied with the same old song and dance from EA each year, especially as the company continues its aggressive and predatory monetization strategies. WithRematch, there’s finally an alternative, even if it’s not the exact same experience. In fact, it’s precisely this boldness that companies like EA ought to learn from.
Hopefully, Rematch Can Teach EA the Value of Creativity and Risk-Taking
Video games are art—that’s something that most gamers can agree on—butseries likeEA Sports FCultimately have little in common with the concept of artistry. They are produced as if on an assembly line, hitting the same targets with each release, only making changes for the sake of profit or marketing, rather than in the pursuit of artistic expression. They can often be great fun, yes, but words like daring, inventive, and unique almost never apply to these rote products.
And it’s a shame, since there’s no real reason why sports shouldn’t be a strong subject for great, memorable gaming experiences; they can be great drama, tethered to innumerable strong emotions in their fans, and the gaming medium ought to capitalize on this. Why shouldn’t anewEA Sports FCfollow the intimate and personal story of an athlete in decline? Why can’tNBA2Ksay something about the cultural significance of basketball, and how it has changed over the years? More than anything, these series can use bold or interesting mechanics to tell such stories—it doesn’t all have to be explicit and cinematic. Movies likeChallengersprove that sports-related entertainment can be deep and challenging, andRematchmay prove the same thing.
WHERE TO PLAY
From the makers of the acclaimedSifu, Rematch is football with an arcade twist - no offsides, no fouls, no pauses… no time to rest.
Third-person perspective puts you into the heart of the action from an immersive viewpoint.
Designed from the ground up as an online multiplayer experience, Rematch offers split-second gameplay responsiveness that always feels fair.
