As part of its anniversary event and festivities, which were also referenced in the recent Pokémon Presents, Pokémon Unite also introduced a new play mode. Now, the game is known for having some greater resemblance to certain ball sports compared to other MOBA, but this new play mode takes the cake as it references a sport outright - and its influence. As indicated by the title, the play mode is called "Electrode Volleyball", and its dynamics are emblematic of both the referenced sport as well as the game in general.
The play mode is a Quick match... because it literally is that. Two teams of three Pokémon duke it out as in normal volleyball on a rectangular map, trying to smash an Electrode to the other team's side. They'll have to bump it back and forth - possibly even to an outer edge - to be the first to score three points by smashes, or to just stay on top within five minutes of play. In doing so, one team can attack the other with their items and moves to block their attempts at defending the ball from being smashed into their side.
Since the Pokémon need all that they can muster to volley and run in this play mode, they are immediately leveled up and moves need to be chosen for them at once. The gameplay then escalates into a fast and frenzied status, especially during the designated "final stretch" moment - the match point, where one side has already scored two points - at which point HP recovery and speed are increased and barriers close to the outer edge are lowered, opening up the rest of the field to the mayhem.
In my experience, some matches are really fast and seem to be over before they could begin, while others need the full five minutes in order to be resolved. Of course, that might be because earlier on players were still grappling with the restrictions and dynamics of the new play mode, and later matches have resulted in them (and/or me) being put on the spot in order to defend the ball and others in the team while attacking to fend off threats and actually make the much-needed score to (try to) win.
Pokémon Unite will probably never shed its association with ball sports by its partial and uncanny resemblance to certain ones, so having a play mode that actually does flat-out resemble one plays off of this nicely. It also couldn't have come at a better time, with this time of the year being the anniversary celebration for the game. The fast pace and explosive (ahem) nature of the play mode may demand a different way of thinking for the players, especially with consideration of MOBA and ball sports alike.
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