At completexbox we are very much community driven, and welcome guest articles, opinion pieces and reviews. This guide to Rematch, and how to improve your game is written by the very talented Guggs.
It’s been just over two weeks since Sloclap’s Rematch released on Xbox, in that time the fast paced, furious football experience has seen over three million players take to the pitch.
You’ll soon realise this isn’t your average game of football. Loading in for the first time can feel a little daunting as the brightly lit neon arenas are alive with blistering pace and players giving you no time on the ball. With no auto-piloting and no assistance to help you out of a tricky situation, manually controlling one player on the pitch can take some getting used to and every move you make really counts. Don’t be put off by the amount of learning there is to do!
At the time of writing, with almost 3 days playing time and an efficiency rating of over 80%, here are some basic tips I think are important in getting you started.
Look at your camera settings
Before you kick a ball for the first time, I feel like this is a good thing to look at.
Unlike games that give you a broad view of the pitch, Rematch’s camera is centralised to your player, requiring you to turn the camera to see teammates, the ball and how much space you’re in. There are plenty of options in the settings which allow you to alter the camera’s speed and field of view to ensure you can find which you’re comfortable with. One thing I think is essential for new players is to change your controller scheme to the ‘Cam lock preset’ which allows you to press ‘Y’ to automatically focus the camera on where the ball is when you’re not in possession. This takes out the need to be constantly turning the camera manually, allowing you to focus more on the basics as you get used to things.
Pass the ball
This is the best tip I can give to anybody starting out on Rematch. Although there’s a great dribbling mechanic at your disposal, Rematch is a game is designed for teamwork. A simple pass and move will open more opportunities than trying to rainbow flick your way through 3-4 of the opposition. Passing isn’t as straight forward as you’ve come to expect with other football games, with no automatic lock-ons, the weight of your pass, as well as the placement is all down to you. There are a few dedicated passing drills available in the practice mode, which I recommend you spend some time getting used to. Learning the basic pass will be important further down the line as you learn to pass off arena walls, as well as mixing it up with lobbed passes. To begin with though, just focus on finding your teammates with a regular ground pass.
Use the mini map
Although you might feel like the mini map takes up vital space on your screen that you could be using to see more of the pitch, I recommend leaving it on. Once you’ve learned basic positioning the mini map allows you to see space around you without turning the camera, as well as seeing where the ball is going to be when it drops out of the air. It can take a little getting used to, but it’s brilliant way of taking advantage over your opponent on the counterattack.
Don’t chase the ball
When out of possession of the ball as tempting as it might be to chase everything down with the tenacity of a Jack Russell Terrier, doing so will leave a player on the opposite team open. Instead, try to mark a player and restrict their ability to receive the ball. A lot of players will look to sit on the shoulder of the defender furthest back, waiting for a long kick down the pitch to peel away and go one-on-one with the goalkeeper, so your positioning can make all the difference in trying to limit your opponent’s chances – Just remember to keep an eye on your stamina bar!
Listen & communicate with teammates
Pressing the right analogue stick in allows you to call for the ball if your team is in possession, as well as allowing you to ask your teammates to make runs if you’re playing as the goalkeeper. It’s a great way to ask for a pass if you’re not using game chat, but it’s also a way of hearing when your teammates are in space or want the ball crossed into the box. There’s also an option to call for a “one-two” which you can do by passing the ball to a teammate, focusing your camera on them and clicking the right stick in. Communication and teamwork are the foundations of Rematch, so you should get used to using the stick in the appropriate situations.
Help your team defend
This applies to 3 vs. 3 and 4 vs. 4, more than it does in 5-a-side. When your team is defending, make sure you’re back helping. Some players tend to stand between the centre circle and the opposition’s box waiting to receive a pass unmarked, but don’t like to track back and help clear the danger. This can be particularly frustrating when you’re facing a team that knows how to move the ball and create space. Although you might see far less of the action in front of goal as you’d like, helping your team should always take priority.
When it comes to tackling, try and save your slide tackles for moments where you’re certain you’ll make connection with the ball, in other situations holding LT will put you in a defensive stance and pressing B will let you put your foot in, without going to ground.
Rematch also allows you to pass the ball back to the goalkeeper who can pick it up for a couple of seconds. If you find yourself being pressed by an opponent, giving the ball back to your ‘keeper can buy you a few seconds to get your bearings and go again.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes
One of the best ways to learn what works for you in Rematch is to try different play styles. If you feel you’re able to tackle and distribute the ball well, then sitting between your box and the centre circle might be where you flourish, but until you’ve tried different ways of approaching the game, you’ll never know. Don’t be afraid to take shots, to try dribbling or tapping into your inner Andrea Pirlo by making defence splitting passes. You will of course run into some people who are quick to chastise you for making a mistake, but learning what your strengths are early on will help as you progress. As long as you’re not trying to do too much with the ball, you’re always learning.
That just about covers the basics. Hopefully by following the tips above, you’ll improve your personal game and level up your play!
For our Rematch review, click the link below –