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.^[1] The rocket's explosion propels the player to large heights and distances, reaching places not normally accessible.^[2] One downside of this technique is that the rocket blast usually injures the player;^[3] 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^[4] and speedrunning.^[5] In Quake III: Arena some of the computer-controlled opponents use rocket jumps.^[6]

Rocket jumping has appeared in several games in a variety of forms. 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).^[7] The first game to feature vertical rocket jumping was Bungie Software's Marathon (1994). In Half-Life's (1997) multiplayer mode, the tau cannon can be used to launch the player into the air.^[8] In the multiplayer game Team Fortress 2 (2007), the Soldier class has a powerful rocket jump ability.^[3] This is fully integrated as a feature of the class, even appearing in one of the game's official trailer videos,^[9] and official game updates gave soldiers a unique rocket jumping animation (their shoes catch fire, which jets downward like rocket exhaust). The Demoman class can also rocket jump by using his remote-detonated sticky bombs. This causes more damage, but the trajectory control and height are increased. The effect can also be stacked with two or three sticky bombs to send the Demoman extreme distances, at the risk of having next to no health, or dying from the fall, when he lands. It became quite popular in the previous incarnation named Team Fortress Classic.^[10] Rocket jumping also appears in Unreal (1998) and Unreal Tournament, where the player can fire Eightball rockets beneath their feet and gain altitude. (In UT it is also possible to perform similar move with Impact Hammer, which is then referred as "hammer jump")

Becoming much more than a neat trick to best enemies, many games have fan-made maps designed solely to show off and challenge a rocket jumper's skill.

[edit] Other adaptations

Rocket jumping has appeared in other media as well. In the live-action film Transformers the character Ironhide performs a rocket jump over a screaming woman after transforming from his truck mode.^[11]

In the film Planet Terror, lead character Cherry Darling uses her false leg, a machine gun with underslung rocket launcher, to rocket jump over a tall wall.

[edit] Grenade Jumping

Grenade Jumping is the same action, except throwing a grenade underneath yourself while jumping, to achieve the same effect

[edit] References

v • d • e Specialized movements in first-person shooter video games Bunny hopping • Circle strafing • Double jump • Rocket jumping • Strafe-jumping • Straferunning