Like a red inflatable balloon hurtling toward you at top speed, here's something you might not have seen coming. Knockout City is a competitive online multiplayer game developed by Velan Studios that aims to bring the recreational sport of dodge ball to the gaming world, and in turn, to the masses. If you recognize the name Velan Studios, this is the team behind Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit. That's right: the mixed reality racing game that sees physical radio-controlled cars zipping around your living room. So it's a weird transition, but Knockout City captures the same kind of fun, childish spirit that's often reserved for Nintendo games. While playing 3v3 dodgeball matches might seem like a terribly mundane affair, you don't have to worry: Knockout City throws out enough crazy curveballs that help turn the simple game of throwing and catching into something much more engaging. There's a lot to like here. After spending a few hours dodging, dodging, and diving, it's clear that Velan's Studio has nailed the basics. And that's crucial for a game that revolves around such a simple core mechanic: throw and catch. If these two aspects didn't feel right or didn't work as expected, the whole thing would come crashing down like a house of cards. It was for this reason that the developer had to create their own custom engine, one that could overcome latency challenges that could ultimately ruin a player's enjoyment. Timing plays a key role in Knockout City, you see: your opponents can catch the shots and return them with more speed. Therefore, rallies are commonplace with the ball getting faster with each throw and catch until one player finally loses his temper. Break!
Catch Me If You Can
![Dodgeball Knockout City]()
(Image credit: EA) "You'll need to coordinate, watch your positioning, and laser aim if you want to win." Did we mention you'll also have to deal with curved and lobed pitches, fakes, modified hunting balls (like a literal bomb ball), and environmental hazards in Knockout City? You won't be competing in your typical high school gym here. Oh, and by the way, you can also curl up in a ball for one of your teammates to throw it to the opponent. If thrown at you with enough power, you can fall from the sky like a meteor and cause an instant knockout. And that is the main objective of the game: to knock out your opponents before they do the same to you. Each player has two lives before being considered a star, and matches can quickly swing back and forth as the team tries to dominate dodgeball. Once again, this is by no means a rudimentary recreation of dodge the ball. Additional mechanics, like the ability to take a false throw, add a fair amount of depth and strategy to the proceedings - battles can often feel like a game of chickens when you psych yourself out before (hopefully) hitting your opponent. face in good time. launch. You must coordinate, watch your position and have a laser sight if you want to win. Teamwork is essential if you want to dominate an opposing team member who has scary quick reflexes, or if you want to turn the tide when the odds are against you.
Total baller
![Mapa de Knockout City]()
(Image Credit: EA) "There are countless items and gestures to unlock, as has become the norm these days, but Knockout City's customization options seemed at least surprisingly unique." But what's the point of winning (or losing) if you don't look good doing it? Knockout City is packed with customization options: you can create your own flaming character and reward yourself with an impressive ending celebration or a rage-inducing taunt. There are countless items and emotes to unlock, as has become the norm these days, but Knockout City's customization options seemed at least surprisingly unique. One criticism we had with the game early on is the size of the cards in the game and the ability to get the ball out to other players. You can kick the ball out of another player's hands or just drop it, but we've found that matches can quickly turn into a close and personal fight, which defeats the purpose of the game. The maps also seemed a bit too big for our liking - we found ourselves running with no one in sight for significant parts of a match, and that often interrupted gameplay.
It's a knockout
![Personajes de Knockout City]()
(Image credit: EA) However, Knockout City certainly has the potential to be a hit. Not just because of its dynamic art style and satisfying gameplay, but because Velan Studio and EA, which publishes the game under its EA Originals label, have made some smart business decisions. The game is appropriately priced at €19,99 (roughly £19,99 / AU$29,99) and supports cross-play and cross-progression. With a new IP address, especially an online multiplayer game, having a large number of players is essential. Thankfully, crossplay and cross-progression mean Nintendo Switch players can battle against PlayStation players, and if you were playing on Xbox and switching to PC, your progress will continue. Knockout City is also getting a free beta on February 20-21 on Origin and Steam, so intrigued players can spin the game around. When the game launches on May 21, a free trial will also be available on all platforms (i.e. PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC) where the full game will be playable. So there's no excuse not to play ball.