Rocket League, a fast-paced soccer game that uses rocket-powered cars, received an update this month that added another game mode to the already diverse selection: Rumble. This mode distances itself from the last two modes that were added -- Hockey and Hoops (a basketball version) -- where the main premises stays the same as standard mode: a soccer ball, two goals, and six players. What makes this mode stand apart is the power-ups you're able to use. Let me tell you now, Psyonix went above and beyond any expectations I had in the best possible way.
In total, there are 11 power ups that you're able to use. You'll be able to use your first one 10 seconds after play begins, which is also the same amount of time it takes to refresh after the power-up is used. I'll be doing a quick breakdown of each one and what my experience with them has been like.
1. The Boot.
The Boot springs out to kick an opponent's car, sending it flying away. This is one of the more defensive power-ups you can get, and it works well. Whenever I find myself with this equipped, I try to stay back near my goal, waiting for the right time to spring it on an unsuspecting driver.
2. Disruptor.
Disruptor will make an opponent's car boost uncontrollably for an amount of time. Honestly, it's not one of my favorite to use, but as someone who uses any boost I can get, I love being the “victim” of this attack. What I do try to avoid is activating it on someone when my trans are close by, as they're now traveling at the speed needed to demo other players. This happens all too often to me.
3. Freezer.
Freezer is one of the more self-explanatory power-ups, as it does just what is name implies: it freezes, specifically the ball. What's useful with this one is once the ball is frozen, it loses all of its previous momentum, simply falling straight down if it's not knocked loose by a player.
4. Grappling Hook.
The Grappling Hook is by far one of my favorites. When activated, it pulls you straight to the ball, which you subsequently hit, sending the Bari flying in the direction you were just being pulled. I've had countless successful goals from all over the field using this one. Take your time to be facing the right position and you'll be golden. The only weak spot with this one that I've seen is when you have the Swapper activated on you. I'll cover this a bit more that section.
5. Haymaker.
Haymaker is another one of my preferred power-ups, and from what I've seen, it's everyone else's, too. With this one, you send out a bit first on a spring that punches the ball, sending it soaring. While I've made a lot of scoring plays with this one, I've made multiple scoring shots against my own team with it, too. That's my main warning here: make sure if you're in the middle to knock the ball away from your own goal so that it's truly going to go away from your goal. (Bluestreak and Groot, I'm still sorry for those three goals I made for the other team that one game.)
6. Magnetizer.
Magnetizer attracts the ball to your car when you're in a close vicinity to it. I'm kind of bittersweet on this one. While I feel like the premises is great, the action is lackluster. The ball is easily knocked away, the speed (or lack thereof) you need to maintain control feels sluggish, and it's hard to guess where the ball will go. The only decent thing I can find is that getting extra Juggle points is very easy with this one, as the ball will randomly just bounce behind you.
7. Plunger.
First off, I just want to say that I get overly excited whenever this one comes into my possession, and I can't exactly tell why. The Plunger makes your car shoot out a rope with quite literally a plunger on the end that sticks to the ball, and then whips it around before unsticking. This makes stealing balls far easier than other means.
8. Power Hitter.
Power Hitter is just that -- you hit hard. I honestly can't tell what the initial thoughts were with this one. Assuming you have a clear shot, you can lightly tap the ball on one side of the field and watch it sail across to the other. I'll admit it now though that I didn't figure that out until my fourth day in. What it also does is instantly demo an opponent's car at any speed. That's what I first (and still do) think that one is for.
9. Spike.
Spike is what I looked forward to the most when I first saw the trailer for the update. When you bump the ball with spike on, the ball will stick to your car wherever it was first bumped. While it is a great power-up, I feel the timing is crucial. You don't want to activate it too soon and have it wear off before you get to the ball, and you don't want to wait too long to turn it on and have the ball bounce right over you; practice definitely makes perfect with this one.
10. Swapper.
Swapper will make you and an opponent switch places. My experiences with this one are mostly poor ones. When I'm the one activating the swap, typically my momentum is lost, along with the mental direction I had of where the ball is.
11. Tornado.
The Tornado creates a large funnel cloud that follows your car, sucking up and spitting out opponents and the ball. While I definitely recommend staying away from the ball when under this one, I do recommend chasing your opponent's. There's just something about seeing them sucked up and tossed out that makes me happy inside.
Overall, with practice and patience, all of the power-ups could be of great help. My main suggestion is to just try them, see which ones you like and learn how to use them, and then find the ones you don't like and learn how to use those, too. Maybe we'll meet up in a match sometime, but until then, good luck and have fun!
