Rematch: A Football Game That Needs a Talking-To About Sharing
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
IGN's Simon Cardy reckons *Rematch* is ace, but the players need a serious talking-to about teamwork – apparently, it's all highlight reels and no passing. Sounds like a proper good time, if you like watching people hog the ball!
Right, so IGN's Simon Cardy's been having a kickabout with *Rematch*, the footy game from Sloclap (those legends behind *Sifu*), and it sounds like a proper laugh… until it isn't. He's been getting flashbacks to schoolyard glory, those power league days before his knees started sounding like rice krispies. Sounds idyllic, right?
But here's the rub: *Rematch* is all about that individual flair, the fancy footwork, the kind of goals that make highlight reels sing. Cardy reckons it nails that personal expression thing brilliantly. Which, on paper, sounds ace. But the problem, as he points out, is that footy's supposed to be a *team* sport, innit?
Apparently, too many *Rematch* players are channeling their inner Maradona (minus the Hand of God, obviously – we don't speak of that). Instead, they end up looking like that kid with the gold boots who trips over his own feet trying to do a Ronaldinho. All the gear, no idea, as they say.
Cardy's not asking for everyone to be a pro, mind you. Just pass the bloody ball, mate! He recounts matches spent watching teammates dribble through entire defenses before blasting shots from impossible angles, completely ignoring him waiting patiently in the box for an easy tap-in. Ouch. Imagine playing a whole game without a single pass! The frustration is palpable, like trying to herd cats who all believe they're Lionel Messi.
He draws a comparison to *Sifu*, Sloclap's martial arts hit, noting how its DNA has infiltrated the beautiful game. The tight controls, the almost complex button combos, blurring the lines between sports and action. He loves how precise you can be with your shots, a real edge compared to *EA FC* or even *Rocket League*. It's that sweet spot, that arcade-y magic...when it works.
Cardy yearns for the collective glory, the satisfying ping of passes, the feeling of being part of a well-oiled machine. He reminisces about his own footy days, spraying passes like a virtual Andrea Pirlo. But *Rematch* just isn't giving him that. It's more like an *Overwatch* lobby filled with DPS mains, all vying for the highlight reel. Thrilling, maybe, but not exactly as intended. He suspects there might not be an easy fix, given player agency is key, and wonders if Sloclap could incentivise teamplay with cosmetic rewards or bonus XP for assists.
He does concede that maybe, just maybe, this is the curse of playing team-based games with randoms online. Chemistry takes time. His solution? Find a group of like-minded mates to play with. His own Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets. A beautiful dream, dead on arrival, as he puts it. Apparently making mates in your 30s is harder than perfecting a Zidane turn. Ain't that the truth?
So, the plea remains: pass the ball, you selfish sods! Cardy promises to return the favour. Let's hope some *Rematch* players take heed. Sounds like *Rematch* has the potential to be a proper banger, but only if everyone remembers it's a team game.
(Massive thanks to Simon Cardy at IGN South Africa for the inspiration for this piece. Check out his original article for the full lowdown!)
Tags: Rematch, Football Games, Sports Games, Multiplayer, Teamwork
Original article: IGN South Africa