Roller Champions beta preview: High-speed skating that's got me hooked

Roller Champions Source: Ubisoft Entertainment SA

Diverging from Ubisoft'south usual lineup of expansive role-playing to hit multiplayer shooters, Roller Champions could exist its next title deserving of the spotlight. All-time pitched equally Rocket League sans rocket-powered vehicles, it'south a frantic scramble of loonshit roller-skating and ball games. The title starting time appeared on my radar at E3 2022, walking away equally an "unexpected highlight" of the show I otherwise may have overlooked. Just with an imminent closed beta and scheduled for free-to-play launch later in 2022, it'due south a premise that's kept me hooked. It'south some of the well-nigh fun I've had in years.

After a few more hours with Roller Champions this calendar week, I'g however trying to settle on what exactly draws me. Information technology could be the smooth yet multi-layered motility that feels so sleek or the constant rush of maintaining ball control at breakneck speeds. As a long-neglected Jet Gear up Radio fan, information technology'southward also a premise that resonates, with a vibrant street style that'south not agape to embrace a loud persona. After walking away impressed following its reveal, and now a few hours more, I'm all the same slap-up to keep skating.

Roller Champions Source: Ubisoft Amusement SA

You'll stone up in skates to a velodrome-esque stage in Roller Champions, carve up into 2 teams of three, with the sole aim of scoring goals. The match sees players fight over ball possession, completing counter-clockwise laps around the track while passing and dodging on the way.

Completing one lap, passing through four designated checkpoints, opens your window to snag a goal — only an interception from the other team sets y'all back to zero. Scoring successfully also nets you 1 point, while additional laps either earn you lot three points or the total five to win the friction match. That means a high payoff for doubtful plays, adding elements you won't find in most traditional sports.

That loop makes up your majority of your fourth dimension in Roller Champions a constant back and along for the ball, balancing risk versus reward. Roller Champions exists in the same space equally Rocket League, that'due south clear from the outside, but dissimilar Psyonix'due south automotive playground, huge disparities appear at a deeper level.

Roller Champions Source: Ubisoft Entertainment SA

The move has proven to exist one of Roller Champions' defining traits. In-line skating is central to the dynamics of gameplay, as is each arena's pattern. You don't accept a throttle or steering, but instead, rely on physics and positioning to go along moving. That includes pumping a ramp to proceeds momentum from the curvature of the track or grabbing onto teammates to pull yourself forward, each contributing to a sense of more than nuanced control. The resulting gameplay feels consistent and responsive, best experienced with a controller in-hand.

The curved track as well means a cyclical arena, condensing the match into a tight channel. It means that its sole iii-versus-three fashion provides aplenty action despite the relatively small histrion count, and providing more guidance over a more open pitch. And while each rail has the same simple oval layout, each course's specifics volition vary, with tweaks to the surfaces factoring into plays.

Roller Champions Source: Ubisoft Entertainment SA

Ubisoft is yet to lock down a firm release date for Roller Champions, but with its closed beta rolling out on February 17 through March 1, the end of development is speedily endmost in. The title's future now rides on the terminal content offering and how that resonates with players, equally a multiplayer title so heavily dependent on an active customs.

While Roller Champions ships with one core game type, additional modes like ranked play, a fourth dimension-based "hot murphy," and a communal skate park aim to inject more ways to play. This all comes with a rewarding loop of player cosmetics, switching out your attire with new items as you progress. While the store accepts earnable in-game currency dubbed Wheels, there'south besides "lootball" random drops and a "Roller Laissez passer" with a few dozen tiers of rewards. We besides know Ubisoft hopes to support its free-to-play model with monetization, the first instance a "Premium" rail coming to its pass.

Roller Champions has been in the pipeline for some time for Ubisoft, simply information technology finally appears to exist nearing completion. It retains the initial charm that drew me in 2 years ago, with continued work to expand on its premise, coupled with what looks to exist a salubrious economy. Information technology's totally gratuitous to get started, and so there'south little friction to try yourself — the adjacent opportunity is the closed beta, where sign-ups remain live ahead of February 17.