That’s because unlike a lot of its contemporaries, Knockout City is not a free to play game as one might expect from the premise. However there is a feeling that there needs to be more here to justify the price point of the game. That’s not to say they are bad, and in fact all of the ones available now are quite good and intricate. Map selection is scarce and one of the major complaints that I have about Knockout City. But then there are wilder modes that take advantage of specific parts of gameplay, like one where you can only use other teammates as balls or one where there are only specialized balls that spawn on the map. There is the core 3v3 team deathmatch and free for all options as you would expect. There is a selection of game modes, with rotating modes that change occasionally.
This means there is a tense choice of deciding whether or not to go for the perfect shot at the risk of being hit. The catch window is large, but the closer the ball is when you catch, the faster you can throw it back. It’s essentially a parry that takes some good timing. Crucially however you can also catch the ball mid-throw and then chuck it back at a faster speed. It seems like balls have very light tracking, but they can be avoided with the right moves.
It very well has the potential to be one of the best online multiplayer games on the Nintendo Switch.Īfter its reveal, it fell off my radar, but after playing the Open Cross-Play Beta, I'm ready to play more of the game when it releases on May 21 for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, and PC.You also have defensive abilities like sprinting and dodging. Still, I walked away thinking Knockout City was more in common with Rocket League or even Splatoon - both wonderfully unique experience that works on almost every level, and the compromises made to the Switch version aren't too drastic. Going into this, I expected something akin to Fortnite. Cross-play and cross-progression mean that there will certainly be a decent player base at launch, and I truly hope the game finds and maintains an audience. The online play is smooth, the gameplay is fun, the controls are easy to master, and there's plenty of cosmetics to unlock and challenges to complete. Knockout City seems to be checking off all the right boxes. The friends I played with all enjoyed their time with Knockout City but weren't quite sold on the purchase, even if it's only $20. Will the content be deep enough to warrant the purchase? It remains to be seen. Interesting that they would buck the free-to-play trend that's proven itself so successful over the last few years.
I was also surprised to learn that the game isn't a free-to-play game, but instead will offer a free trial to all players at launch, and once that trial is done, it will cost $20 to continue playing. The same can't be said for the levels, though, which were all interesting, inventive, and fun to play on. Considering games like these are 50% skill and 50% looking cool, I wonder if the exaggerated characters might turn off potential players. In fact, It's actually one of the uglier games I've seen in a while in this regard. The characters seem to be channeling this rockabilly meets street punk vibe that doesn't always look good.
One of my biggest gripes so far isn't really so much with the game itself as with its art style. Knockout City Character Customization (Image credit: iMore) The game also features a Quality Mode and a Performance Mode. While the game's art style might be divisive, the simple, colorful visuals look good on the Switch in handheld and docked mode. Switch owners will be happy to know that Velan Studios has taken the time to optimize the Switch version. Knockout City also features an in-game store and tons of unlockable cosmetics for your dodgeballer, so knowing I'll have access to any gear I unlock, no matter where I unlocked it is a welcome addition (looking at you, Apex Legends).
Knockout City's party system was seamless, and it was easy to send invites to friends on other platforms. In my playtime, I connected with friends on the PC and the Xbox and encountered no latency issues.
Knockout City is dropping on basically every platform available, and you and your friends can join up together and play no matter your system of choice. One of the biggest draws of the game is its cross-platform and cross-progression support. Knockout City Streets (Image credit: iMore)