Tape to Tape is a hockey arcade game with a goofy party layer

Despite being Canadian, I’d never fallen in love with our national sport until recently. A game called “the Hockey Game” is what got me into the sport of hockey. Tape-to-TapeThe film is based on a golfer who has been disgraced and wants to atone for his mistakes by building a superteam made up of athletes. Throw in wild skill upgrades and zany artifacts, teams of mountaineers rappelling across the ice, and sinister referees, and hell yeah — this is a version of hockey that I’m here for.

Tape-to-TapeThis roguelite entered Early Access on May 3, 2013. Although the game’s core remains solid, it continues to be tweaked and upgraded. The game has two components, one of which is hockey. A match can be played on the internet. Tape-to-TapeThe keyboard and mouse set-up is functional, but not slick. Playing with a game controller is the best way to enjoy it.

There are all of the things you’d expect from an arcade hockey game — passing to your forward, face-offs on the ice, desperate longshots, clever passes, and hype goals. It’s a great game. The puck bounces and ricochets from sticks. It’s the first time I’ve ever understood why hockey is so dang fun. Matches are played in Tape-to-TapeThey are aggressive and fast. I am able to take advantage of the opportunities they offer. Other times, I will take the puck using a vicious check or some brilliant skating.

Images: Great Rectangle/Null Games

It is the most tensest part of Tape-to-TapeThe puck can bounce off the sticks of players grouped around the goalie. If you do something wrong, the puck could ricochet and land in your net. This can be a crushing defeat. It’s rare that I’m afforded the time to leisurely line up a shot; it’s more likely that my forward will be checked and knocked right on their rump. Once I learn how to triangulate, I’m able to pass, pass and shoot with confidence.

Here’s where all of the silly stuff comes in. Tape-to-Tape’s roguelite campaign tells the tale of Angus McShaggy, an embittered golfer who has decided to restore the glorious sport of hockey by claiming the cup back from golfkind. The game requires me to battle through Lovecraftian Cultists and rogue Referees. All of this is shown with cartoon-like graphics, which bring classics to life. MunchkinMind.

Every game I win I earn some sort of upgrade. Perhaps I’ll earn a knight helmet for one of my players that slows them down, but makes them very strong. Maybe I’ll unlock a random ability for the next run, like a sick disco ball that makes my opponents compulsively boogie down. Tape-to-Tape Steam offers the game for only $17.99, a discount of $19.99.