A beginners guide to playing Rocket League
Are you new to playing Rocket League? Discover the best way to play Rocket League and some tips to score more goals.
A beginners guide to playing Rocket League
In an online community where gunplay and team anarchy are common, Rocket League rises as a unique and engaging game. Rocket League's goal is to provide its players with a unique gaming experience like no other.
The game's take on football is the most faithful representation of the genre without resorting to simulation. In Rocket League, you need to score goals as if you’re playing football but with cars. One of the reasons why Rocket League rose to success is because it was made available for free as part of PlayStation Plus on PS4.
Recently, Epic Games acquired Psyonix, the company that produced Rocket League. This happened when Rocket League shifted to a freemium business model. Since then, the game's fame has skyrocketed and become one of the most highly respected esports in the world. If you are a fan of football and want to play a game that is unique and exciting, here’s a Rocket League beginner guide:
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What is Rocket League?
Rocket League is like a real-life Top Gear race between football and race cars. It is the 2015 sequel to Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars and was an instant hit when it was released. Rocket League is also heavily based on Demolition Derby with a vital aspect of your team's defence being to completely demolish the opponent's car.
It takes about 5 minutes to play a game of Rocket League, which is divided into two halves. If needed, an extra game is played at the end of the second half. Wondering how to play Rocket League? It is basically a 3v3 match which is the standard for competitive and esports play. However, the game can also be played in a wide range of match modes from 1v1 to 4v4.
Downloading
The company that started Rocket League was Psyonic but it was purchased by Epic Games in 2019. Since the game is free to play, the game's success skyrocketed and attracted a bigger market because the game was made easier to play and download. If you're playing Rocket League for beginners on a PC, you need to install the Epic Games client before you can download the game.
Rocket League is available on platforms such as PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. You can also play Rocket League with your friends using different platforms since the game supports crossplay in its entirety.
Once you have it installed, you can link your PlayStation (or Xbox, or Nintendo) account to your Epic Games account using your login info. If you do this, you can sync your progress to a new system with little to no downtime.
Game modes
Rocket League servers host a wide variety of game modes and playstyles. Aside from the most popular playstyle configuration features 3v3, there is also a 2v2 and 1v1 options. A casual and competitive playlist is available making the game more accessible to new and inexperienced players.
If you get bored with Rocket League's standard mode, you can try one of the many other available game mode options. In Rumble, it's always a 3v3 gameplay, but there's a twist. You can use power-ups to score, confuse, or temporarily destroy your opponents.
Hoops is another variant where two teams of four play a game on a basketball court using a special ball and goals resembling basketball hoops. This game mode has more iterations such as Snow Day where a hockey puck replaces the ball.
If you're just getting started, it’s best to check out some of the more chill game modes. With this, you’ll get a feel for the pace of the game and practise the basics and it won’t affect your rank.
Creating your car
In Rocket League, you can give your vehicle a unique look with simple cosmetic upgrades. You can customise your boost colour, car trail, wheel, and even the colour of your car.
Some players avoid including such details in their cars because they provide no advantage over the competition. If you’re the type of player who values aesthetics, then customising your car can make you feel more eager to play and win. During a match, your car's type or shape is the only factor that can affect your gameplay.
The Octane, the Dominus, the Batmobile, and the Fennec are just a few of the most popular vehicle types with various sizes. Some cars allow you to dribble with ease, while others fly more smoothly. Again, this is a matter of personal taste and match experience, but do bear in mind that various vehicles feature distinctive hitboxes. Hitboxes are the default body types in Rocket League.
Positions in Rocket League
When looking at some Rocket League beginner tips and guides, you will always find that there are no official roles in Rocket League. Rather, the game does have zones or positions similar to football. Choosing the best position for your gameplay when playing Rocket League is one of the best ways to play and win.
Compared to other games, Rocket League features only three positions or ones that you need to master. Unlike other esports titles, the game’s meta also does not affect the Rocket League gameplay as much. These three positions include:
- First man → If you’re playing as the first man, it is up to you to get the opening hit and begin the ball rolling for your squad.
- Second man → As the team's pivot, the second man must constantly be on the lookout for offensive chances without ever leaving the last man exposed.
- Last man → The last man is like a goalkeeper on your team because he's your team's last line of defence.
How to play Rocket League for beginners
Rocket League is generally football with cars. You need to work with your other two teammates to try and rack up as many goals as possible in each of the game's two halves. As mentioned, there are three distinct positions to play in Rocket League. You have to figure out which one works best for you as the game progresses.
If you launch an attack and your two teammates follow you, you have to be the last guy standing to make up the difference. Not every interaction on the field will be open and clear, but you can help pave the way by doing your part.
Rocket League is a fairly easy video game to pick up and play. All you need to do is to get the ball into the opposing team's net and prevent them from scoring. You will learn some intricate techniques such as dribbling and juggling when you play more.
Top Rocket League tips for beginners
Although Rocket League is an easy and simple game to learn, it’s still important to practise and learn some Rocket League tricks for beginners. The most effective Rocket League tips and tricks for beginners can be as simple as adjusting your settings or learning how to use your boost smartly. To help you get started, here are some easy and effective Rocket League tips that will help you score more:
Adjust your camera settings
It's tempting to rush into a match as soon as the game has finished downloading. Before diving into your first game, tweak a few setting options to ensure a smooth gaming experience. The camera's default settings are not ideal because the default setting of the camera is too near to the trunk and gives it a narrow field of view.
Keeping the default camera angles would hinder your gameplay. When this happens, expanding your field of view and pulling the camera back slightly will greatly enhance your field of view and gameplay.
Learn and practice
If you're a fan of driving games, you'll find that Rocket League's controls are among the most enjoyable. Learning how to jump, pivot, boost, and dodge are just some of the skills you'll hone over the course of your first few games. Although it can be difficult to maintain control at first, with time and practice, you'll soon be able to dribble the ball effortlessly. With enough practice, you’ll be able to sprint across the field and make incredible saves and wall shots.
Practise how to properly hit the ball
The hardest aspect of Rocket League, at least for the first few games, is actually making contact with the ball. As a rookie player, you'll find a hard time making contact with the ball on your first few tries. However, don't lose hope because as you play more, you'll learn the best way to hit the ball and score a goal. When you've mastered the correct movement and momentum, you can start to consider a variety of ball-control tactics to add to your skill set.
Use boost carefully
One of the best tips when playing Rocket League is to learn how to properly manage your boosts as a rookie player. Each corner and the midfield mark on both sides of the field have massive, full boost pads. Meanwhile, the field's interior is peppered with smaller, more smartly placed boost pads. It's common for new players to rely too heavily on boosts.
It's not uncommon for rookies to use up their whole boost on a single sprint down the field. However, you’ll need to remember that the difference between maximising its effectiveness and saving it for later is crucial for an effective play. Overusing the boost mechanic is a common rookie error.
When learning how to play Rocket League, it’s crucial to be patient. Being a rookie player means learning from your mistakes and taking time to practise. As you play more, you will slowly but surely learn the right movement and gameplay for you to play effectively.
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Words by: Rica Miranda
