The battle for the soul of arcade soccer has been going on for a while now, and Sloclap's Rematch may have won it. The developer that gave us Absolver and Sifu might initially seem like an odd fit for a soccer game. But pro athletes would tell you that sports and martial arts have more in common than we realize.
Your defense needs to be as strong as your offense. You have to manage limited stamina. And sometimes, you have to go for the crazy move with a low percentage chance of working. Bruce Lee's recommendation to be "like water" applies. Whatever plan you have in Rematch may have to change at a moment's notice.
There is a whole lot to learn here, even if you have played EA Sports FC or Rocket League, which despite it involving cars may be a better one-to-one comparison with Rematch. While the gameplay isn't "your player starts glowing" levels of arcade, it is definitely not a sim experience. And that's fine. Since the days of EA's Street series of wild sports titles, I've missed that combination of defying the laws of physics yet still needing to practice sound tactics.
There are never any guarantees where new franchises are concerned. I loved the experience Rumbleverse and Knockout City provided too, and they've gone to the great gaming beyond. But Rematch has earned a spot in my multiplayer game rotation during a time in which new College Football and Madden games are but weeks away.
I'm not a professional yet, but every time I screw up I can't wait to get back out there and try it again. If getting your teeth kicked in is as much fun as winning, you've got something special.