SlowClap's Rematch is the most ambitious version of a football game we've seen in decades. I've praised my experience playing this game throughout my preview, but Rematch is about more than just its mechanics. A lot of effort has also been put into the game's narrative, aesthetic, and atmosphere.
During my time at SlowClap's office in Paris, Creative Director Pierre Tarno talked to me about Rematch's creative pillars. The game places an emphasis on feeling like a great player, creating competitive pressure, and feeling like part of a team.
The last pillar I find particularly important. If you've ever competed, you know that winning something individually gives a lot of self-satisfaction, but winning as a team is an incredible feeling. You're feeding off each other's energy, creating a mix of sweat and joy. I felt all of this while working with my hands in Paris, even though the risk was very low.
Utopic environment
The story of Rematch takes place in the near future of 2060, in a world where the environment has been so destroyed that the world's superpowers have finally agreed that something must be done. The planet has moved towards renewable energy and allowed nature to restore itself. It's leaning towards utopia, but not everything is solved - it's a refreshing take on our collective imaginary future, which is bleak and depressing. It's easy to lose stakes in a story when society is broken, but since this Rematch is a game, it allows for more positive storytelling.
With this in mind, many of the arenas in Rematch are themed around a form of renewable energy. You can see windmills or hydroelectric machines in the background. They are a not just there and a lots of care has been taken to make the environments believable. The art team is trying to convey the message that society has progressed by using a football stadium as a backdrop. It's an ambitious undertaking and especially commendable, since Sloclap could have created even simple arenas. It demonstrates a unified creative vision and the belief that you can still tell a story in an online sports simulator.
The game's color palette is also very thoughtfully chosen. This rematch is full of blue and orange, these bright colors are more suited to the team and provide a positive feel. This game is trying to ignite the joy of playing in front of thousands of fans; a dark, harsh aesthetic would not be suitable for the story this rematch is trying to tell or the emotions it is trying to convey.
The progressive theme of a rematch is also reflected in the characters design So which allowed you to choose between male or female and androgynous features. You can customize these characters, but everyone fits an athletic mold; they are muscular and well-defined. You realize that gender, skin color, etc. do not matter; everyone is an excellent player willing to work together to conquer opponents.
There are also interesting changes to the uniforms. You can customize your character, and though the kits are based on realism, you can add streetwear touches here and there. It reminds me of the French animated series Galactic Football. Tarnow assured me that the plan is to keep the cosmetics reliable in the future, so don't expect to see the ball rolling toward Goku or the Ninja Turtles in the years to come.
While I was certainly impressed with Rematch's mechanics and gameplay, I was equally impressed with its artistic vision. Sloclap tells the story with aesthetics, design, and environment, rather than burdening the player with dialogue and explanation. It's exactly that type of extra care that makes a competitive multiplayer game like Rematch worth enjoying, rather than playing a few times and tossing aside.
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