Skip to content
CGMagazine
  • News
  • ArticlesExpand
    • Buyers Guides
    • Features
    • Interviews
    • Previews
    • Spotlight
    • The Vault
  • ReviewsExpand
    • Game Reviews
    • Comic Reviews
    • Anime Reviews
    • Book Reviews
    • Tabletop Reviews
    • Hardware Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • TV Reviews
  • Guides
  • Magazine
  • MediaExpand
    • Podcasts
    • Video
    • Sound Off
    • First Fifteen
    • Weekly Goods
    • Video Interviews
    • Video Reviews
  • Store
  • Newswire
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
CGMagazine

Rocket League (Switch) Review: Sometimes You Can Pick a Favourite Child

  • Bryan Calhoun Bryan Calhoun
  • November 28, 2017
  • 4 Minute Read
Rocket League (Switch) Review: Sometimes You Can Pick a Favorite Child 5
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on reddit
Score: 7 / 10

The first and most important thing to know about Rocket League on the Switch is that it is ugly, and I am going to write UGLY in all capital letters to ensure that you know I am being serious about this. I know this will be considered sarcasm by some, but I am being completely literal when I say that Rocket League on the Nintendo Switch has the visual resolution of a poorly optimized smartphone game, and that’s upsetting to me. Most of what upsets me revolves around the fact that I am competitive when I play Rocket League and mushy graphics hamper my reaction time. Hampered reaction times leads you to be out of position, and being out of position often leads to losing. That said, I am also mad because I know that the Switch can do better than this.

Rocket League (Switch) Review: Sometimes You Can Pick a Favorite Child 6
Rocket League (Switch): gameplay image via Nintendo and Psyonix

Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey are both games with graphic levels that require prepositions to properly explain them. Specifically, the preposition for, as in Breath of the Wild and Odyssey looks pretty good for Nintendo Switch games. Zelda and Mario are not going to win any competition that focuses on graphics, but they both possess massive worlds, decent draw distances, and pretty graphics for a game you play on a small tablet computer. Alternatively, Rocket League happens in a series of small areas, and the graphics are so pixelated that it is hard to pick out the ball from across the stadium. In the face of the latest Zelda and Mario offerings, Rocket League’s cell phone graphics feel extremely out of place, even on the Switch.

Rocket League (Switch) Review: Sometimes You Can Pick a Favorite Child 3
Rocket League (Switch): gameplay image via Nintendo and Psyonix

Luckily, all versions of Rocket League highlight the ball with a white circle, so you can at least keep track of it that way; however, the fuzzy graphics completely obfuscate other players when they are on the opposite side of the field, so there was more then one time I wasn’t totally sure if someone had left before the game was over. To make matters worst, Rocket League on the Switch supports cross-platform play with the PC and Xbox One versions, so you are literally going up against people who have an advantage because they can see what is happening better than you can.

Beyond that issue, Rocket League on the Switch is exactly like all the other versions of the game I own. Anyone who has played Rocket League on the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One will feel right at home since the button layout are nearly identical. The menu, music, gameplay mechanics, car models—minus console specific vehicles—and HUD are identical to that of the Xbox One and PlayStation versions. The only real difference with the Switch version is that the Switch comes with a smaller set of thumb-sticks for portability reasons, so you will have to consider the difference with stick input when you play. There is also the fact that the Switch version comes with a pair of Nintendo themed cars that are full of sound effects from the franchises that they represent; however, I wouldn’t say that makes the Switch version different. The PlayStation 4 version comes with the Twisted Metal ice cream truck that Sweet Tooth drives, and the Xbox One version has a Halo Warthog in it.

Rocket League (Switch) Review: Sometimes You Can Pick a Favorite Child 2
Rocket League (Switch): gameplay image via Nintendo and Psyonix
Rocket League (Switch) Review: Sometimes You Can Pick a Favorite Child 1
Rocket League (Switch): gameplay image via Nintendo and Psyonix

In the end, this is not my favourite version of Rocket League, but it is one that you can enjoy. The gameplay is identical to the other versions in most ways, but the graphics of the Switch version are ugly. The resolution is so low that Rocket League on the Switch is my least favourite version. Especially since I found that the graphics did hamper my gameplay. That said, if you’re just looking to play a friendly game of Rocket League on the public transportation system, or if this is the only version you could buy, I would still suggest you play it. I would simply suggest that you play other versions first if given the chance.


Liked this article and want to read more like it? Check out more of Bryan Calhoun’s reviews such as Destiny 2, Dead By Daylight Special Edition, and Madden NFL 18!

Want to see more videos? Subscribe to our YouTube channel and check out the First 15: Star Wars Battlefront II, Sonic Forces + Episode Shadow, and  Super Mario Odyssey!

Don’t forget to tune in every Friday the Pixels & Ink Podcast to hear the latest news, previews, and in-depth game discussions!

Never miss when new CGM articles go out by following us on Twitter and Facebook!

CGMagazine is Canada’s premiere comics and gaming magazine. Subscribe today to get the best of CGM delivered right to your door! Never miss when a new issue goes live by subscribing to our newsletter! Signing up gives you exclusive entry into our contest pool. Sign up once, you’ll have a chance to win! Sign up today!

Final Thoughts:

Rocket League on the Switch is like winning an all expenses paid vacation to Florida. Yes, it’s Florida, but you still won a free vacation.
Bryan Calhoun

Bryan Calhoun

Co-Host of Got Game on Sportsnet 590 The FAN (CJCL) in Toronto and 1310 News (CIWW) in Ottawa. Hobbies include mixing audio, watching NASCAR and popping collars. You can follow him at @Bryalogical.
All Articles
Rocket League (Switch) Review: Sometimes You Can Pick a Favorite Child

Rocket League (Nintendo Switch)

Publisher: Psyonix
Developer: Psyonix / Panic Button
Played On: Nintendo Switch
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: November 14, 2017
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Must Read

Samsung Note 20 Ultra Review 18

Gaming on the Go: Talking Note 20 as Gaming Alternative

Samsung Reveals Galaxy S21 Lineup at Unpacked 2021 5

Samsung Reveals Galaxy S21 Lineup at Unpacked 2021

ASUS ROG Line Expands With RTX 30 Series and 11th Gen Intel CPUs 12

ASUS ROG Line Expands With RTX 30 Series and 11th Gen Intel CPUs

MORE FROM Bryan Calhoun

F1 2018 (PS4) Review 3

F1 2018 (PS4) Review

Platinum games Unveils Babylon's Fall at Square Enix E3 2018 1

Platinum games Unveils Babylon’s Fall at Square Enix E3 2018

Auto Draft 54

Bad Jokes and Big Game Announcements Dropped in Equal Measure at the Bethesda E3 Press Conference

Major Details about Forza Horizon 4 Announced at the Xbox Press Conference of E3 2018 1

Microsoft Outlines Details for Forza Horizon 4 at Xbox E3 2018 Press Conference

CGMagazine Logo

Advertise with us
Jobs @ CGMagazine
© 2020 CGMagazine Publishing Group

Facebook
Twitter
Youtube
Linkedin
Instagram
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Policies
  • Jobs
  • Contests
  • CNW News
Menu
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Policies
  • Jobs
  • Contests
  • CNW News
  • News
  • Articles
    • Buyers Guides
    • Features
    • Interviews
    • Previews
    • Spotlight
    • The Vault
  • Reviews
    • Game Reviews
    • Comic Reviews
    • Anime Reviews
    • Book Reviews
    • Tabletop Reviews
    • Hardware Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • TV Reviews
  • Guides
  • Magazine
  • Media
    • Podcasts
    • Video
    • Sound Off
    • First Fifteen
    • Weekly Goods
    • Video Interviews
    • Video Reviews
  • Store
  • Newswire
Search