Is The Machine Running Out Of Oil?

One of the biggest debates in all of Rocket League is the question of ‘who is the greatest of all time’. In the conversation, you’ll frequently see Kaydop, with his 3 world championships and an MVP, Garrett, a world champion who’s attended every RLCS LAN, ViolentPanda, the leader behind Dignitas’ dynasty, and Squishy, the man who help reinvent Rocket League as we know it today, amongst a host of other reasonable selections.

But in every single conversation, one name is never too far from the top, and that name is Turbopolsa, ‘The Machine’. In his career, Turbo has been one of the biggest time players in the world, constantly rising to the occasion when it mattered most and acting as the glue in every team he’s played in.

Whilst The Machine certainly isn’t the flashiest, most mechanical player ever, his credentials don’t lie, and with 4 world championships, 2 worlds MVPs, and a host of other regional titles, it’s difficult to not consider Turbo as the greatest to ever do it.

Another reasoning behind Turbo’s possible elevation as the best is his seemingly infinite longevity. Although now 23 years of age, older than the current eldest player attending LAN in LA (CJCJ), Turbo has been able to stay at the top for almost the entirety of his career, placing top 4 in Season X and the Fall split regionally. Despite no longer being right at the top, it still looked like The Machine still had some miles left in it, and going into a home major in Stockholm, Turbo appeared set for more success.

But on LAN, the cracks in the once LAN beast’s game began to show, and miserably. Purely statistically speaking, Turbopolsa had the lowest average saves out of everyone by a significant amount, and was the 3rd lowest rating wise of the bunch. His lack of mechanics and speed, which were once outweighed by his consistency and game smarts, seriously hurt Envy in Stockholm, sending them home with a disappointing 1-3 record.

And after the major, Envy’s hand was forced by their mechanical wizard, Atomic, who wanted out for G2, leaving Envy with no choice but to pick up dreaz in return. In Winter, G2 are 2nd in NA and a genuine contender for the victory in LA. Envy, on the other hand, tied for 9th. Without Atomic’s mechanics, Envy has looked even slower than before, with The Machine unable to lead the team as he once thrived in doing.

With Envy still sitting 7th in North America, this tale is certainly far from done, and there’s definitely time for Turbo and the crew at Envy for the Spring Split and potentially worlds. But with the rise of so many young, mechanical phenoms, and the pace of the game only get faster, you have to ask whether The Machine will have the horsepower to keep up with the competition in the future as the game continues to progress.