Polished, difficult, and endlessly confident in both its presentation and mechanical execution, Sifu was far and away the best gaming experience I had in 2022. It was, then, somewhat of a surprise when developer Sloclap revealed that its next game wouldn’t centre around class-leading combat, but soccer. The reveal trailer for Rematch premiered during The Game Awards 2024, showing a soccer game that bizarrely looked more like Rocket League than FIFA EA Sports FC.
Having spent some time with Rematch during a recent closed beta test, I discovered that it shared more in common with Sifu than the trailers might lead you to believe, albeit without the rage and reincarnation.
Where most football/soccer games have you playing as an entire side, with your control switching between players as you pass the ball, Rematch locks you into a single player on the field. Playing online matches in a 3v3, 4v4, or 5v5 format, you’re expected to play a role within your team to squeak out a win. Though that won’t be easy, because despite its arcadey appearance, Rematch is as skill-based as it comes.
Movement is a standard third-person affair, with the exception of a meter that lets you push harder and sprint faster for a short burst to close distance with the play. Passing and shooting are also pretty par for the course on the surface, with a straight pass, lob, and shoot being tied to different combinations of the face buttons and triggers. So far, so expected.
The Sifu of it all is in how deliberate all of these motions need to be. Basic possession will tether the ball to your feet, but sprinting with the ball will detach it, meaning you’ll need to move close enough to collect it before manoeuvring into your next play. Passing and shooting are equally as manual, with the direction of the ball dictated by where you’re aiming the camera. So don’t expect to pull off any insane Pelé until you’ve mastered the mechanics. Passing doesn’t immediately lock to your teammates either, so precision isn’t just preferred, it’s required.
Skill moves, such as pitching the ball over your opponent’s head, are easy enough to pull off, but you’ll need to nail the timing for them to be effective. Similarly, a defending player has a blocking stance and a tackle in their arsenal, but they’re only potent when used at the right time and in the right direction, so throwing yourself at the ball can lead to you being stranded far from the play.
Goalkeeping is just as manual as any other position on the field. The goalie has their own set of lateral movements when a trigger is held, letting them play a mental game with the approaching team. Better still, they can utilise a dive to catch the ball that has no right being as satisfying as it is. When on the offensive, the goalie can leave their position and will automatically turn into a sweeper, giving them the same kit and abilities as everyone else, ostensibly granting that team an additional attacker, or a backfill defender. In a truly excellent move, the position of goalie can then be picked up by any player who enters the box, making the most vital defenseman a dynamic role that anyone can step into.
Making ever move so manual and deliberate could be a recipe for frustration were it not for the fine tuning and pixel perfect polish on the each of the game’s mechanics. I didn’t manage to master the beautiful game, nor do I expect I will when Rematch launches next month, but the tools are there, and they work perfectly for those who are dedicated to learning and progressively improving.
Save for my annual dip into wrestling games, I’m not a fan of the sport genre, and I’m even less of a fan of soccer, but Rematch could have the formula for stealing my interest away from the other big releases in June. It scratches the learn, improve, master itch for me, but I’m truly excited for those who are into the riot-inducing ball sport. If you’re a year-on-year FIFA/EA Sports FC purchaser, think about branching out and giving Rematch a crack, you’ll thank me later.
Rematch releases on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on June 19.
Previewed on PC using code provided by the publisher
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