The look of the modern team-based multiplayer game has taken many different shapes in recent years, ranging from the cars-meets-soccer gameRocket Leagueto therecently-popular hero shooterValorant.And while developers have innovated on the incredibly broad genre quite a bit, EA andMario Kart Live: Home Circuitdeveloper Velan Studios' dodgebrawlerKnockout Citycomes in with a dodgeball-like “thwack,” shaking up the scene with an all-new take on the team-based multiplayer game.
Back in February,Knockout Citywas revealed during a Nintendo Direct presentation, with a strange trailer that suggested the game had something of an identity crisis. And althoughKnockout Citystill seems to struggle with its identity, it nails the core necessities of a team-based game while providing a fresh experience.
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The concept of a team-based dodgeball game is as simple as it sounds. InKnockout City, players partake in intense dodgeball games known as Dodgebrawls, where Crews duke it out for dominance in spots all around Knockout City. The game is rooted in its Team KO mode, which pits 2 teams of 3 against each other, where the first team to reach 10 KOs wins a round and the best 2 out of 3 wins the match.
Throughout theirKnockout Cityjourneys, players will have the chance to progress through what Velan Studios callsa “free, social battle pass"on a seasonal basis, with tiered unlocks that feature a random order per player. Players complete Contracts to earn XP and cosmetics, and even work towards unique rewards with clan-like Crews of up to 32 brawlers. Velan Studios even promises regular updates with new maps, special balls, cosmetic items, weekly limited-time modes, and more, starting with the launch of Season 1 on May 25.
InKnockout City, players are officially knocked out when they are hit by a dodgeball twice, or hit by a more lethal type of ball, such as an opponent. Not only can players “Ball Up” to be thrown at their opponents by their teammates, but the game keeps brawls fresh with a randomly-chosen special ball each match, like a Sniper Ball that darts in a straight line when thrown, or a Bomb Ball that sticks to surfaces and detonates shortly after being picked up. Additionally, the Party Brawl mode flipsKnockout Cityon its head, letting players run wild by spawning only special balls, while the Diamond Dash mode makes for fast-paced action as players vie for points as opposed to knockouts alone.
Althoughthe game focuses on accessibilityand is quite simple on the surface, it boasts a high skill-ceiling for those looking to get competitive. Controls are simple: players can throw, pass, and catch dodgeballs, dodge, tackle opponents, perform a double jump, glide mid-air, and throw slick lobs and curveballs. Finessing a lob over a building or beaming a fully-charged curveball from around the corner make for some incredibly satisfying knockouts.
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If teamwork makes the dream work, thenKnockout Cityplayers have more than enough chances to make their dreams come true. The game’s mechanics allow for a myriad of different team-based plays to secure some sweet knockouts. Although difficult to pull off, the risk-reward tradeoff for a fully-charged Ball Up is appropriate, resulting in a slow but devastating Ultimate Throw that is capable of knocking out multiple opponents at once on impact.
It doesn’t take long to get the hang ofKnockout City, and with the right flow of teamwork, players can streamline coordinated knockouts, pummeling their opponents into oblivion.Knockout City’s visual cues let players know if they’re being targeted and where a ball might be coming from. While audio cues make it clear when players have been hit by a ball,Knockout City’scareful sound designhelps players not just see, but hear how close a ball is to hitting them. Players without mics can also use specific in-game call-outs to communicate with their teammates.
Knockout Cityhas no problem letting players get creative to devise their own tactics as well, such as coordinating 2 simultaneous throws at a single opponent to leave them without an opening to catch both balls. One player can distract an opponent while another sneaks in a quick, fully-charged throw from behind, or a curveball from the side, and players can tackle opponents to leave them without a dodgeball to throw. Players can even catch Balled Up opponents to use them against their own teammates or throw them off the edge of the map for a quicker KO.
The different maps inKnockout Citygive players a variety of ways to get around, such as Back Alley Brawl’s pneumatic tubes and the gusts of wind that allow players to glide across Rooftop Rumble. However, these gimmicks tend to be some of the only defining characteristics of the game’s different maps, as most of them look and feel very similar to each other. While consistency is nice,Knockout City’slack of map varietydoesn’t present players with much intriguing diversity in its environments, despite Velan Studios insisting there is deep lore behind the city.
Additionally, it was clear thatKnockout Citytook inspiration from a variety of places, but didn’t quite hit the nail on the head for what its own identity should be. While its more simpleFortnite-like character designsare diverse and accessible, the game’s art direction is sometimes uninspired, with many characters' face models looking like they were accidentally squished during development.
Having Dodgebrawl matches narrated by a 3-in-1 referee, sports announcer, and DJ certainly breathes some much-needed life intoKnockout City’s universe. And while the jazz-inspired soundtrack by musical duo The Soundlings can be repetitive at times, it does manage to keep up the fast-paced,pumping rhythm of intense Dodgebrawls.
Knockout Cityis a genre-defying take on the team-based multiplayer game, where players are not just teammates, but also tools and assets for one another. And althoughKnockout Citystruggles to find an identity, the game’s ability to excel in accessibility while holding a high skill-ceiling makes it easy to pick up and even easier to keep playing.
Knockout Cityis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X. Game Rant was provided PC code for this review.
Knockout City
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Velan Studios’ third-person sports game Knockout City takes dodgeball to the next level. Either tackle opponents in free for all lobbies or set up a team to fight against other players. Knockout City introduces seasonal changes like new balls, unlockable rewards, game modes, and activities for players to challenge themselves with.
