How Good is Knockout City?
The first-person shooter that replaces weapons with dodgeballs is going to be a cross-platform game that will be available on all consoles (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC via both Origin and Steam platforms.) This is big news because everybody with a console can take advantage of free access to the game for 10 days after its launch during what the developers are calling a “block party” to celebrate the game’s launch. This is not only good for the game developers at Velan Studios, but for consumers of the game who can try the game out before they give the green light on making a full purchase.
Although, the game does reward players that purchase the game within those 10 days with perks such as, customizable options and virtual currency. During those 10 days, players will be able to unlock and earn rewards for the game by meeting certain requirements. Most of these requirements are simple and others require more dedication. They can all be found — in detail — on EA’s website. Some of these requirements include logging into the game and exploring different features and others include devoting time outside of the game to attending or joining in on specific events.
What players can expect after the full game is released is a high-octane multiplayer environment with loads of future content on its horizon. The developers have stated that there will be weekly content and other sources point to seasonal updates every 9 weeks. With this on the agenda for the game, it doesn’t look like it’ll be leaving the spotlight long after its release. Therefore, players can look forward to multiple seasons of content as long as Velan Studios can support the Knockout City network.
The object of the game is to pelt an opponent twice with a dodgeball before they are KO’d and have to respawn. Unless the player is pegged by another player rolled into ball form, which is an added feature, that ensures the action never stops. For every player that is knocked out, the opposing team gets points that tally into the score at the end of the match with the overall winner being first to win 2 out of 3 games. These are gonna be your regular deathmatches and with the games being so accessible, one is inclined to wonder how much mayhem is going to be packed into a single lobby. There are plenty of ways to win the game which involve teamwork, strategy, proper positioning rather than a typical aiming system, evasion techniques, and gliders that help the player traverse the map.
The aiming system, which allows players to lock on and home in on a target, strikes as an atypical form of firing in a first-person shooter genre. This, however, makes the game more family-friendly and anyone who is introduced to the game is sure to have a field day with the controls, which are meant to be easy to pick up on. Another important function to mention is being able to pass the ball to other teammates. This can allow players in a better position to have a better chance to hit another opponent and it’s going to be intriguing to see the way the game and its players use this functionality.
Another strategy players can take advantage of are the different balls players can choose from, which have different abilities that toy with the game or the ball’s mechanics. One in particular that has been mentioned before allows players to use each other as balls and there’s even a whole game mode centered around the wacky maneuver. This kamikaze tactic, however, comes with a drawback as it wouldn’t be very idealistic if the opposing player catches the ball and the thrown player is left in a vulnerable position.
The game is centered around teammate play, however, there will be other game modes — one of which includes a free for all option — and each mode will add variety by requiring each team to reach a specific in-game objective to win matches. Free-for-all, as many would already suspect puts every man for him/herself and makes for a chaotic and spontaneous free-play session. Each match can hold up to 8 players with 4 players on each team unless the 3v3 option is chosen, however, players can start a clan by selecting the “crews” option and adding up to 32 members to their clan.
After observing gameplay footage, the game looks to have what makes for a solid release title. With all the people that will have access to the game, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the ability to hold more players per match happens somewhere down the road. It’ll be fun to see the strategies people come up with as well as how players communicate with each other, the customizable options that allow players to personalize their clans, the enemy flanks that happen after players come flying in on their gliders, the competitive side of the game as people race to become the best clan, and much more content that’s set to come into the game.
A dodgeball game in the first-person shooter genre is an interesting concept, to say the least. What separates this from other titles is its potential as well as its online features. It is unclear whether split-screen will be available, however, players can look forward to lots of action-packed servers. For now, it’s safe to say that the full game, which is set to release May 21 of this year will have many gamers wondering where all the hype is coming from.
Works Cited: Shubhankar Parijat. “Knockout City — 15 Features You Need to Know,” Gamingbolt, https://gamingbolt.com/knockout-city-15-features-you-need-to-know, published on: 26 Apr. 2021, accessed 13 May 2021
