Rematch continues to attract players, with around 33,000 on Steam alone as of now. Co-founder Pierre Tarno and lead game designer Dylan Allen spoke with PC Gamer about the careful thought behind the ball’s mechanics. Allen pointed out that Rematch is not just a sports game; it carries a lot of fighting game DNA, inspired by Sloclap’s previous work, like Sifu. The feel when you kick the ball is crucial. You want it to feel satisfying and responsive, but there’s a tricky balance to strike.
Too fast or too far, and the gameplay could easily become unbalanced. For example, defenders and goalkeepers need to have meaningful reactions. You wouldn’t want a goalkeeper’s punt to send the ball across the entire pitch without contest; that would reduce interaction and strategy.
After trying it myself, the precision is impressive. A goalie’s kick might reach the other side but won’t quite score an own goal. This means you often hand possession to the opposition unless a teammate is ready to take over. It’s a neat balance, but Allen admits sometimes it feels like you have to compromise between realism and gameplay flow.
Tarno emphasized that the ball is the “basic brick of the game,” almost like an atomic element around which everything else is built. Any changes to its behavior need to be thoughtful. Even minor tweaks could force players to adjust their timing and distance judgment, which are key to mastering the game’s mechanics.
He also mentioned questions that come up when considering changes: How high should the ball bounce? What’s the curve of its effect? These details impact muscle memory and player strategy, so the team plans to make deliberate adjustments, taking player feedback seriously.
It’s clear that while some tweaks might happen, they’ll be done carefully to avoid disrupting the core gameplay. That respect for the game’s feel is reassuring, especially for those of us who appreciate the subtle details behind what makes a sports game tick.
In other news, Rematch has successfully managed to garner 1 million players on its first day of launch, which is quite a lot for a game like this, if you ask me. Also, this is not the current number of players it has; instead, it has tons more.
