Tape to Tape Early Access Impressions
Surprise! Another roguelite. This one is different, I promise. Not different like unique and special and one of a kind, just different. It is a roguelite set within…wait for it….
A hockey game. I told you it was different. Also, I lied. This is a special and one-of-a-kind game.
Developed by Excellent Rectangle, Tape to Tape is a roguelite hockey game (definitely not on my “sentences I would ever write” bingo card). So roguelites generally follow a simple-ish/predictable pattern: play, die, repeat, play longer, die again, repeat, and so on and so forth. Hockey is, well, hockey: 5 on 5, skating, passing, shooting, checking, more checking, and even more checking. How does one take the sport and turn it into a roguelite?
First off, this is a hockey game. You could take all the basics, put it into a separate game and have an NHL ‘94 clone. While it may play like NHL ‘94 (on a basic level), it definitely is not the latter (also one of the greatest hockey games ever). Does anyone remember that stupid puck tracker Fox did for a few years to “help” people keep track during games (FoxTrak - google it and one article is called 10 dumbest uses of technology in sports)? Take the ridiculousness of that, mixed with the absurdity of Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey, and top it with NBA Street, NFL Blitz, and MLB Slugfest and you get Tape to Tape. Rules?
There is a ref - well someone has to drop the puck. There is no icing, no offsides, and no hit is too big. I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out kind of atmosphere.
While you can choose to play single games, the campaign is the focus and where the roguelite comes into play. You play as Angus McShaggy, a former golfer turned hockey player. Angus must travel the land (3 acts) and win the cup to restore hockey to its former glory. Upon starting up a campaign, you are presented with a choice of three randomized skills. These can range from being able to throw your stick, a super dash, recall the puck like a yo-yo, or having your slapshots always redirect from your teammates’ faces.
You will pick a superstar teammate to join you who has their own set skill and then 3 more randomized players to round out the team. Lastly, you get to choose an Artefact. Unlike the abilities, this is a passive ability that does not require activation. These can make or break a game and include Rigged Faceoff (you always win faceoffs), Briberee (the referee may bodycheck the other team), Remarkable Rock (first goal is worth 2), or Greasy Stick (opponents lose their stick whenever they take slapshots). As you advance through the campaign, you will be provided opportunities to earn new skills that can be given to anyone on the team or new artefacts to utilize. The skills are limited to what you have unlocked though. When you “die,” you can unlock new abilities which become available for purchase. New superstars function the same way and both abilities and superstars will be added to the randomized pool once purchased.
Oh right, the roguelite portion of our show. It really boils down to win and advance, lose and go home. Winning nets you Rubber which is used to purchase those new abilities and superstars or increasing Angus’ stats. Rubber earned as you play is yours to keep win or lose. As I mentioned, the campaign has 3 acts, each of which has the equivalent of 2 minibosses and 1 boss in the form of various teams. Every new campaign will randomize the path you take to the end of act bosses. You always begin by playing a match where the first goal wins. There is a branching path with various events followed by a miniboss. The pattern is then to choose a path and 2nd miniboss, choose a path, and finally, boss fight! The first boss here is a team of crooked (redundant, I know) referees. It is so crooked that the actual referee will intercept the puck and throw it to the opposition or even disallow the goals you score. Good times!
Admittedly, roguelite hockey sounded more weird than interesting when I heard the concept. After a few unsuccessful runs though, I found myself ready to get back up and try again. The randomization of skills and artefacts makes each run a new experience coupled with an actually fun hockey game and Tape to Tape is a definite winner. On more than a dozen occasions, I found myself laughing out loud at some of the hijinks that took place. Of course, the game is in Early Access right now so that means there is much more to come including manually controlled goaltenders, a fight mode, and new skills and artefacts. The game is an incredibly entertaining experience and I look forward to the future. Do not let Early Access scare you. Angus needs your help to win the cup!
