Rocket jumping
Encyclopedia
In first-person shooter
computer and video games, rocket jumping is the technique of pointing a rocket launcher
or other similar explosive weapon at the ground or at a wall then firing and jumping at the same time. The rocket's explosion propels the player to greater heights and distances than otherwise possible. One downside of this technique is that the rocket blast usually injures the player; this can be coupled with further damage if the player falls large distances to the ground. This effect makes the techniques less useful in games where the damage from the blast, fall, or both is high. In many games a well executed rocket jump results in a minimal damage, and a larger boost. In addition, in games with team damaging disabled, a teammate can use his rocket to jump someone else. The technique is used especially in competitive play where it is used in order to get to the middle capture point quickly in order to get an advantage over the other team. This is why new ways of jumping are being thought of all the time. Speedrun
ning is finishing jump maps as fast as possible and involves a lot of skill to master. In Quake III: Arena some of the computer-controlled opponents use rocket jumps.
Rocket jumping has appeared in several games in a variety of forms, sometimes as a form of Emergent gameplay
. A horizontal form of rocket jumping appears in Doom (1993), where it is used to reach the secret exit in E3M6 (it is possible to reach the exit without rocket jumping, but rocket jumping was the intended method according to John Romero
).
The first games to feature vertical rocket jumping were Bungie Software's Marathon
and 3d realms' Rise of the Triad
(coincidentally, the two games launched on the same day, although the full version of Rise of the Triad came later). Rocket jumping became very popular in the original Quake (1996), and was used as an advanced technique for deathmatch play as well as for the Quake done Quick
series.
In Half-Life' s (1998) multiplayer mode, the tau cannon
can be used to launch the player into the air.
In the multiplayer game Team Fortress 2
(2007), the Soldier class has a powerful rocket jump ability. This is fully integrated as a feature of the class, even appearing in one of the game's official trailer videos, and official game updates gave soldiers a unique rocket jumping animation. The Demoman class can also "sticky jump" similar to rocket jumping by using his remote-detonated pipe bombs. It became quite popular in its previous incarnation, Team Fortress Classic
. Updates to the game have included special footwear that help protect from damage as a result of rocket jumping, such as the "Gunboats" and the "Bootlegger." There have also been weapons that encourage rocket and sticky jumping, such as the "Mantreads", the "Market Gardener", the "Rocket Jumper", and the "Sticky Jumper." Rocket jumping also appears in Unreal
(1998) and Unreal Tournament
, where the player can fire Eightball rockets beneath their feet and gain altitude. In that game it is also possible to perform a similar move, the "hammer jump" with the Impact Hammer.
Although not propelling the player himself, the Rhino tank in Grand Theft Auto III
can rotate its turret 180 degrees to the rear and accelerate forward while firing. When combined with the flying cars cheat, this is the only way to make a car fly.
In Iji
, the player cannot fire weapons while jumping, but can perform a standard rocket jump by allowing herself to be hit by an enemy rocket. Also, certain weapons have enough kickback to propel the player backward; this can be used to cross gaps with low ceilings where normal jumping will not work.
performs a rocket jump over a screaming woman after transforming from his truck mode.
In the film Planet Terror
, lead character Cherry Darling uses her false leg, a machine gun with underslung grenade launcher, to rocket jump over a tall wall.
In the film Tokyo Gore Police
, lead character Ruka uses a bazooka to rocket jump to a building's rooftop.
Grenade jumping is the same action, except throwing a grenade underneath yourself while jumping to achieve the same effect.
In League of Legends
, the character Tristana uses an ability of the same name.
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
computer and video games, rocket jumping is the technique of pointing a rocket launcher
Shoulder-launched missile weapon
A shoulder-fired missile, shoulder-launched missile or man-portable missile is a projectile fired at a target, small enough to be carried by a single person, and fired while held on one's shoulder...
or other similar explosive weapon at the ground or at a wall then firing and jumping at the same time. The rocket's explosion propels the player to greater heights and distances than otherwise possible. One downside of this technique is that the rocket blast usually injures the player; this can be coupled with further damage if the player falls large distances to the ground. This effect makes the techniques less useful in games where the damage from the blast, fall, or both is high. In many games a well executed rocket jump results in a minimal damage, and a larger boost. In addition, in games with team damaging disabled, a teammate can use his rocket to jump someone else. The technique is used especially in competitive play where it is used in order to get to the middle capture point quickly in order to get an advantage over the other team. This is why new ways of jumping are being thought of all the time. Speedrun
Speedrun
A speedrun is a play-through, or recording thereof, of a whole video game or a selected part of it performed with the intent of completing it as fast as possible, optionally under certain prerequisites, mainly for the purposes of entertainment and competition...
ning is finishing jump maps as fast as possible and involves a lot of skill to master. In Quake III: Arena some of the computer-controlled opponents use rocket jumps.
Rocket jumping has appeared in several games in a variety of forms, sometimes as a form of Emergent gameplay
Emergent gameplay
Emergent gameplay refers to complex situations in video games, board games, or table top role-playing games that emerge from the interaction of relatively simple game mechanics....
. A horizontal form of rocket jumping appears in Doom (1993), where it is used to reach the secret exit in E3M6 (it is possible to reach the exit without rocket jumping, but rocket jumping was the intended method according to John Romero
John Romero
Alfonso John Romero is a game designer, programmer, and developer in the video game industry. He is best known as a co-founder of id Software and was a designer for many of their games, including Wolfenstein 3D, Dangerous Dave, Doom and Quake...
).
The first games to feature vertical rocket jumping were Bungie Software's Marathon
Marathon (computer game)
Marathon is a first-person shooter video game with a science fiction theme developed and published by Bungie released in December 1994 for the Apple Macintosh. The game was Bungie's second foray into the emerging genre of games with a first-person perspective, the first being Pathways into...
and 3d realms' Rise of the Triad
Rise of the Triad
Rise of the Triad: Dark War is a first-person shooter video game that was first released on February 17, 1995 and developed by Apogee Software . The members of the development team involved referred to themselves as "The Developers of Incredible Power"...
(coincidentally, the two games launched on the same day, although the full version of Rise of the Triad came later). Rocket jumping became very popular in the original Quake (1996), and was used as an advanced technique for deathmatch play as well as for the Quake done Quick
Quake done Quick
Quake done Quick is a series of machinima and speedrun movies in which Quake, its mission packs, and a few of its related games, are completed as fast as possible, utilizing any shortcut or trick necessary...
series.
In Half-Life
Coilgun
A coilgun is a type of projectile accelerator that consists of one or more coils used as electromagnets in the configuration of a synchronous linear motor which accelerate a magnetic projectile to high velocity...
can be used to launch the player into the air.
In the multiplayer game Team Fortress 2
Team Fortress 2
Team Fortress 2 is a free-to-play team-based first-person shooter multiplayer video game developed by Valve Corporation. A sequel to the original mod Team Fortress based on the Quake engine, it was first released as part of the video game compilation The Orange Box on October 10, 2007 for Windows...
(2007), the Soldier class has a powerful rocket jump ability. This is fully integrated as a feature of the class, even appearing in one of the game's official trailer videos, and official game updates gave soldiers a unique rocket jumping animation. The Demoman class can also "sticky jump" similar to rocket jumping by using his remote-detonated pipe bombs. It became quite popular in its previous incarnation, Team Fortress Classic
Team Fortress Classic
Team Fortress Classic, also known as Team Fortress 1.5 or simply TFC, is a team-based multiplayer first-person shooter video game developed by Valve Corporation. It is a remake of the Team Fortress modification for Quake. Team Fortress Classic was originally released for Windows on April 7, 1999 as...
. Updates to the game have included special footwear that help protect from damage as a result of rocket jumping, such as the "Gunboats" and the "Bootlegger." There have also been weapons that encourage rocket and sticky jumping, such as the "Mantreads", the "Market Gardener", the "Rocket Jumper", and the "Sticky Jumper." Rocket jumping also appears in Unreal
Unreal
Unreal is a first-person shooter video game developed by Epic MegaGames and Digital Extremes and published by GT Interactive in May 1998...
(1998) and Unreal Tournament
Unreal Tournament
Unreal Tournament is a futuristic first-person shooter video game co-developed by Epic Games and Digital Extremes. It was published in 1999 by GT Interactive. Retrospectively, the game has also been referred to as UT99 or UT Classic to differentiate it from its numbered sequels...
, where the player can fire Eightball rockets beneath their feet and gain altitude. In that game it is also possible to perform a similar move, the "hammer jump" with the Impact Hammer.
Although not propelling the player himself, the Rhino tank in Grand Theft Auto III
Grand Theft Auto III
Grand Theft Auto III is a 2001 open world action computer and video game developed by DMA Design in the United Kingdom, and published by Rockstar Games. It is the first 3D title in the Grand Theft Auto series. It was released in October 2001 for the PlayStation 2, May 2002 for Microsoft Windows,...
can rotate its turret 180 degrees to the rear and accelerate forward while firing. When combined with the flying cars cheat, this is the only way to make a car fly.
In Iji
Iji
Iji is a freeware videogame featuring platform and shooting elements, developed by Daniel Remar using Game Maker over a period of four years...
, the player cannot fire weapons while jumping, but can perform a standard rocket jump by allowing herself to be hit by an enemy rocket. Also, certain weapons have enough kickback to propel the player backward; this can be used to cross gaps with low ceilings where normal jumping will not work.
Other adaptations
Rocket jumping has appeared in other media as well. In the live-action film Transformers, the character IronhideIronhide
Ironhide is the name of several different fictional characters in the Transformers universes. According to the original creator of the Transformers names, Bob Budiansky, Ironhide was named after the television series Ironside.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
performs a rocket jump over a screaming woman after transforming from his truck mode.
In the film Planet Terror
Planet Terror
Planet Terror is a 2007 American action horror film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez, about a group of people attempting to survive an onslaught of zombie-like creatures as they feud with a military unit, including a go-go dancer searching for a way to use her "useless talents." The film, a...
, lead character Cherry Darling uses her false leg, a machine gun with underslung grenade launcher, to rocket jump over a tall wall.
In the film Tokyo Gore Police
Tokyo Gore Police
is a 2008 Japanese gore film co-written, edited, and directed by Yoshihiro Nishimura and stars Eihi Shiina as Ruka, a vengeful police officer.Tokyo Gore Police was released to several film festivals in North America...
, lead character Ruka uses a bazooka to rocket jump to a building's rooftop.
Grenade jumping is the same action, except throwing a grenade underneath yourself while jumping to achieve the same effect.
In League of Legends
League of Legends
The BetFred League of Legends was a darts tournament featuring some of the legends of the game of darts which commenced in May 2008. The tournament is broadcast on Setanta Sports in the United Kingdom....
, the character Tristana uses an ability of the same name.