What is Rocket League?

Described as "soccer, but with rocket-powered cars", Rocket League has one to four players assigned to each of the two teams, using rocket-powered vehicles to push a ball into their opponent's goal and score points over the course of a match. The game includes single-player and multiplayer modes which can be played both locally and online, including cross-platform play between the PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows versions, as well as cross-play between Xbox One and Windows versions. It is the official sequel to "Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars" for PS3.

Gameplay

Players control a rocket-powered car and use it to hit a ball that is much larger than the cars towards the other team's goal area to score points, in a way that resembles a soccer game, with elements reminiscent of a demolition derby. Players' cars have the ability to jump to hit the ball while in mid-air. The players can also pick up a speed boost by passing their cars over marked spaces on the field, enabling them to quickly cross the field, use the added momentum to hit the ball, or ram into another player's car to destroy it; in the latter case, the destroyed car respawns moments later. A player may also utilize boost when in the air to propel themselves forward in flight, allowing players to hit the ball in the air. Players can also perform quick dodges, causing their car to do a short jump and spin in a given direction, which can be used to nudge the ball or gain positioning advantage over the other team.

Matches are typically five minutes long, with a sudden death overtime if the game is tied at that point. Matches can be played from between one-on-one up to four-on-four players, as well as casual and ranked. Rocket League also includes a competitive ranked online mode, where players compete in various tiered ranks within game seasons, with victories or losses raising or lowering a player's rank, respectively. The game includes a single-player "season" mode, with the player competing with computer-controlled players. A planned updated will introduce Custom Training sequences that can be created by players and shared with others on the same platform; players will be able to specify the ball's path and the presence and skill of opponents on the field as to practice specific shots-on-goal over and over.

Rocket League Terms (Compiled by Reddit)

aerial - When the point of contact between the ball and the car is just slightly under the crossbar (by a few inches) or higher.

aerial dribble - Whenever the ball is hit multiple times in the air with very weak hits that add little momentum. With minor touches the ball is close and still in your control, and you can hit it again if you like. Just like a dribble, very close and in your control.
backwards aerial - Attempting an aerial hit when the ball is behind your car. The car lifts off directly upward and tilts back effectively making it upside down and moving backward.

bra7il - When the score is 7-1. A reference to this football game. Related: 8razil is used when the score is 8-1.

center - Passing the ball in front of either team's goal. This is the most common offensive play in team based matches.

challenge - (aka: contest) Attempt to hit the ball while it is in the possession of an opponent or when the opponent is about to hit the ball. To challenge an opponent's possession of the ball.

cheat - During a faceoff, a teammate can cheat by advancing forward in preparation to hit the ball after the faceoff concludes. Often produces an easy goal when done right in non-pro games. In pro games, this is used to aggressively take control of the ball after a faceoff.

double tap - Hitting the ball a second time in the air after you already hit it once, without touching the ground in between.

dribble - Advancing the ball using light touches for a continuous period while keeping the ball on the ground. Advancing the ball while it's on the hood or roof of your car.

dunk - When you counter an opponent's hit and gain ball control from their contact immediately after they hit it.

fake - Go for the ball and then stop. So your opponent thinks you would shoot it but you stop or dodge just before you do it, often resulting in him jumping into the theoretical flying path of the ball, and missing.

freestyle - Flipping the car in a stylized fashion before hitting the ball. Performed for fun and style points. Very advanced and often performed by top players.

goomba stomp - When you jump up only to be knocked back down to the ground by a player landing on top of you.

juke - Faking out your opponent and/or maneuvering the ball around them. Often used when dribbling, but not necessarily restricted to dribbling alone.

kuxir twist - (aka: kuxir roll) Best explained with this GIF: LINK

mid - Typically means mid-field. One may call it when warning of an opposing player in the midfield, or calling where a pass or clear will land.

pinch - Hitting the ball against another object (car, wall, etc) such that it gets stuck between you and the object. The pressure causes the ball to fly out at an extreme speed.

pop - Kicking the ball directly upward. Can be done by jumping while the ball is on the roof of the car or hitting the ball from below. Often used as a pass to a teammate or to beat a goalie while dribbling.

redirect - A missed shot or pass not targeted at the opponents goal that is then hit by a teammate at such an angle that produces a shot on goal. Can be done on the ground or in the air. Does not count as a redirect if the ball touches another on the way.
reverse aerial - Doing an aerial with your roof pointing toward the floor. Kind of similiar to the backwards one but not the same.

rotation - (aka: cycling) A team strategy whereby every player assumes every role in sequence. For example, on defense, one player clears the ball and rotates back to goal while the goalie assumes the position of attacker. There are many varying rotation strategies that involve cycling all different numbers of players under different circumstances.

suicide pass - Passing the ball in front of your own goal to setup a teammate for a long clear. Can also be used to describe moving the ball across your own goal to the opposite corner.

tackle - Successfully taking the ball away from an opponent. Often preceded by a challenge.

tip - When a player "touches" the ball with their nose without the course of action resulting in a strong hit. The times where it would be called a "tip" is redirecting the ball, hitting the ball upwards for a teammate to aerial, and for challenging the opponent.

touch - Making contact with the ball but not kicking it. You'll often see "nice touch" used to compliment a player who lightly taps the ball to get it passed an opponent.

This post was edited on 1/21/17 at 11:29 pm