Sports games are often content with sticking to an established formula, but every now and again something comes along that takes a familiar sport and gives it an entirely different spin. Tape to Tape is one such game, blending fast-paced arcade hockey with roguelite mechanics to create an experience that hooked me straight from the off. With its full 1.0 release now available on PS5, Xbox Series and Switch this is a superb alternative to traditional hockey simulations and one that I think would even appeal to non hockey fans.
At the heart of Tape to Tape is a campaign that sees you assembling a team capable of restoring hockey to its former glory. Divided into three acts, each run takes you through a selection of randomly generated encounters, challenges and opportunities to strengthen your squad before facing a boss team at the end of each section. Lose a match and you’ll have to start another run, but the persistent unlocks and opportunities to experiment with different team combinations ensure that failure rarely feels like wasted time.
There is considerably more strategy involved than you might initially expect. Between matches, you’ll find various characters and locations offering different ways to improve your team. Whether you’re recruiting fresh talent, increasing individual player attributes, unlocking special abilities or discovering powerful synergies between teammates, there’s always something worth considering. The decisions you make do have an impact on how your team performs, and finding the right combination of players and upgrades is particularly satisfying.
Thankfully, the actual hockey is every bit as enjoyable as the management systems surrounding it. Tape to Tape adopts an accessible arcade approach, with responsive controls that make passing, shooting, checking and executing spectacular one-timers feel incredibly satisfying. There’s a surprising amount of depth to the action, too, with positioning, timing and understanding your players’ strengths all playing an important role. Power-ups add another layer of unpredictability, allowing you to turn the tide of a match with some wonderfully ridiculous abilities.
The humour is another major part of the experience. From bizarre opposition teams and questionable refereeing decisions to the wonderfully absurd characters in the campaign, there’s a constant sense of personality running through everything. The cartoon-inspired visual presentation complements this perfectly, with colourful environments, exaggerated character designs and entertaining animations giving the game an immediately recognisable identity. It isn’t trying to deliver photo realistic hockey, and its distinctive art is beautiful.
Outside the main campaign, there’s plenty more to enjoy, including local co-op, competitive matches, tournaments and the ability to create your own players and teams. Having the freedom to build a custom squad adds another welcome layer of personalisation, although the absence of a traditional season does limit what you can do with your custom stars. The automatic poke-check can also occasionally feel restrictive, but some will appreciate the added accessibility.
A notable absence in the game is fighting. I’m torn on how I feel about this as there is so much carnage going on from the moment the puck drops that you could argue the entire game is a brawl. However, some kind of wacky one-on-one battle could have been entertaining if implemented correctly. My idea was maybe something like the old Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots.
Nevertheless, these are relatively minor complaints in what is otherwise an outstanding package. Tape to Tape successfully combines two very different genres, creating something that feels fresh, accessible and packed with replay value. Its addictive progression, excellent on-ice gameplay and wonderfully silly personality make it difficult to put down. Whether you’re a lifelong hockey fan or simply looking for something different from the usual sports offerings, this is an easy recommendation. Tape to Tape is an absolute winner.
-Craig 🧐
