Review
Knockout City
Dodgeball gets a whole lot trickier in the best ways.
July.7.2021
Knockout City entered the scene in an interesting time for the game industry. The trend as of late has been to hop on a momentum train with the latest multiplayer craze until the inevitable replacement of their spot on that podium. Whether we like to admit it or not the likes of Fall Guys and Among Us can probably claim to have gone through the same vicious cycle.
This game certainly did not pull numbers in comparison to those two “giants”. With an all-time peak playerbase of just under 6,000 it’s safe to say that this game flew under most radars. What lies undiscovered by the majority of gamers is a fast-paced and tactical twist on dodgeball. You’ll find yourself zooming through warp pipes, dodging trains that hover, and tossing moon balls that launch your opponent into orbit. All of the elements of Knockout City combine to create an “easy to pick up, but difficult to master” experience.
Team up to take on your rivals.
Intuitive Controls and Immense Options
While the modes of play rotate throughout a given number of weeks, the most standard format of play consists of two teams of three players each. These teams will compete in a best-of-three match where each game is won by the team that reaches 10 knockouts first. Each player, upon spawning in, has two health points. Being hit by most throws in the game will take away one health point, but I’ll cover the exceptions to this soon.
Players not only have the option to throw their standard dodgeball right at an opponent. They can also curve and lob the ball, as well as perform a fake throw in which they make the motion but maintain possession. This is important because of the game’s catching mechanic. While you can catch a dodgeball you do need to time it very well. Trying to catch with no ball near you means that you are open to attacks for a brief moment which seasoned players of this game will know how to punish.
If you don’t have a dodgeball near you to throw you can just grab your teammate! Throwing your teammate comes with its own set of risks and rewards. You could instantly knockout an opponent that you hit, no matter how many health points they have. However if your opponent catches your teammate they could then throw that teammate off the map, gaining themselves an instant knockout. All of this is to say that the game provides a great deal of options to mix and match your attack and defense sequences.
Not your average dodgeball.
Environments and Special Balls
Instead of traditional dodgeball on a court of some kind, Knockout City invites you to explore a wide range of maps with various terrain and obstacles to use to your advantage. Some maps feature narrow bridges while others have you brawling in tight corners. One map has a constant flow of two-way traffic forcing you to stay alert or be bumped back and forth by the unfazed drivers.
On top of irregular courts you’ll be using some fairly irregular dodgeballs too. For example, the “Sniper Ball” is an American football-like ball that charges up over time in order to launch at an opponent at nearly uncatchable speeds. The “Cage Ball”, pictured above near the center, will lock anyone it hits inside the cage until they can break free. Standard gameplay only features one special ball per match, but there are modes that rotate in which include every special ball at once, or sometimes even only having special dodgeballs in play.
Teamwork makes the dream work.
Closing Thoughts
From a design perspective the style is consistent throughout and the menus feel intuitive and clear. The one minute issue of mouse sensitivity reset is easily fixed and it did not detract from my experience at all. The soundtrack for the game is solid but that doesn’t mean that you can’t vibe to your own tunes while you slam some balls with your friends.
By making a game surrounding dodgeball, Velan Studios have taken a pretty common point of reference for most and twisted it in a new and enjoyable way. Playing with friends who can coordinate attacks with you makes it all the more fun, and with rotating game modes, in-game events and daily cosmetic shop additions, Velan clearly wants this project to succeed. One can only wonder what could’ve been done differently to get this game off the ground at the start.
With a few small issues here and there I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this game. I highly encourage anyone with a solid group of multiplayer buddies to give this game a go. It may be outside your comfort zone, but we all need a little slap from a dodgeball here and there, don’t we?
Reviewer Mindset:
Gaogaen grew up on sports game and eventually made the transition to PC. Multiplayer focus with an emphasis on cooperative play and enjoying the experience are all positives in his book. He currently mostly plays Rocket League and Apex Legends.
