Info about Tape to Tape:

Official game description:
Explore a gorgeous **roguelite hockey** world where every choice matters on your journey to restore hockey to its former glory. Hire unique players, manage your benchwarmers, discover synergies between them, choose new abilities, bribe the referees, visit the Blademaster for upgrades and a lot more.
CRAFT YOUR TEAM
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Take charge of a ragtag group of hockey players in a roguelite journey across a mysterious land. As the newly appointed captain, every choice matters on your path to discover the secret of hockey's last bastion. Hire superstars, utilize the synergy found between players, and harness ruthless abilities, all in favor of crafting an unbeatable team.
LOSING IS ONLY THE BEGINNING
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Easier said than done, as the ultimate dream team doesn’t appear out of thin air. Use losses as an opportunity to visit the mighty Blademaster in between runs and permanently upgrade your hero for the battles ahead. When the Center is still flubbing every single face-off, there’s no shame in lining the ref’s pockets with some sweet “maple syrup.”
DEEP AND REWARDING GAMEPLAY
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Combining modern precision with fast-paced 90s-inspired action, Tape to Tape offers a unique experience in the form of a _simcade_ hockey experience. Bone-crushing body checks and stellar saves will keep players shaking in their skates, but mastering the dynamic puck physics system will secure the victory. Players and goalies will react to the puck bouncing off sticks and ricocheting off faces creating organic and emergent battles on the ice. Thankfully, there is no penalty when a tooth is lost.  
**KEY FEATURES:**
*   A deep Roguelite campaign featuring dozens of powerups, events, boss battles and unique players
*   Create + customize your teams and players with power-ups, artifacts, and personalized color options.
*   Over 40 different teams, each with unique synergies and colorful players
*   Local, couch and Steam Remote Play multiplayer for up to 4 players 
*   Innovative goaltenders that react organically to any shot, deflected puck or rebound -goals never feel unfair
*   Challenge your friends in Tournament, Play now or Shootout modes or play the Campaign cooperatively
*   A unique gorgeous blend of hand-drawn 2D sprites and animations in a 3D environment
4-PLAYER MULTIPLAYER!
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The Tape to Tape can be played online with a total of up to 4 players using Steam remote play or locally. The fast-paced gameplay and tight controls makes for memorable matchups. We also invite you to join our Discord server to play with the dev team or to find other player amongst our wonderful community. The Roguelite campaign is also playable cooperatively with some friends for a truly unique experience.

Release date: 3 May, 2023

Categories: Roguelike, Arcade Sports, Cooperative Multiplayer, Team Management, Character Progression, Customization, Single-player Story


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Highly enjoyable and addictive gameplay (weight 1): Players overwhelmingly find the game highly enjoyable, addictive, and a refreshing experience, especially when played with friends. Many feel it offers excellent value for its price and provides a satisfying, fun gameplay loop.
- Best PC hockey game (weight 0.61): The game is widely praised as the best hockey game available on PC, filling a significant void left by other major franchises. It successfully blends classic arcade hockey nostalgia (like NHL 94/Hitz) with modern roguelite elements, appealing to both hockey fans and newcomers.
- Deep roguelite campaign (weight 0.2): The roguelite campaign and its mechanics are a standout feature, offering significant depth and replayability. Players appreciate the unique builds, team synergies, and varied abilities that make each run feel fresh and exciting.
- Active and responsive developers (weight 0.12): The developers are highly praised for their consistent updates, active community engagement, and responsiveness to feedback. This dedication instills confidence in the game's future and ongoing improvements.
- Fun and unique abilities/power-ups (weight 0.07): The special abilities and power-ups are a major source of fun and replayability. They introduce hilarious, unique, and strategic elements that keep each game dynamic and allow for diverse build experimentation.
- Charming and unique art style (weight 0.06): The game's art style is consistently highlighted as charming, unique, and visually appealing. Its cartoonish and hand-drawn aesthetic, combined with humorous character designs, contributes significantly to the game's overall personality.
- Intuitive and responsive controls (weight 0.06): The controls are described as simple, intuitive, and responsive, making the game easy to pick up for new players while still offering enough depth for mastery. This contributes to a smooth and satisfying gameplay experience.
- Excellent Steam Deck performance (weight 0.05): The game performs exceptionally well on the Steam Deck, making it a highly recommended title for portable play. Its optimization for the device, including battery efficiency, is a significant plus for many players.
- Strong multiplayer experience (weight 0.05): The game excels in its multiplayer offerings, particularly local co-op and Steam Remote Play. Playing with friends is consistently cited as a highlight, enhancing the fun and chaotic nature of the game.
- High future potential (weight 0.04): Players see immense potential for the game's future, with excitement for additional content, game modes, and continued growth. The existing progression systems are already well-received.
- Polished Early Access experience (weight 0.03): Despite being in Early Access, the game is noted for its high level of polish and minimal bugs. This indicates a strong foundation and a promising trajectory for its full release.
- Chaotic, rule-free hockey (weight 0.02): The game's 'no rules' approach to hockey, including the absence of traditional penalties like icing or offsides, contributes to its chaotic and enjoyable arcade style. This freedom enhances the fun and unpredictability of matches.
- Effective sound design (weight 0.02): The sound design, including sound effects and soundtrack, is praised for complementing the gameplay effectively. It enhances the overall experience and contributes to player immersion and reactions.

Common complaints:
- Limited content and replayability (weight 0.34): Players frequently mention that the game's content feels limited, leading to quick repetition and a lack of long-term engagement. The campaign is perceived as too short, and there isn't enough variety in modes or challenges to sustain interest.
- Unbalanced and frustrating AI (weight 0.22): A major point of frustration is the inconsistent and often poor AI, particularly for friendly teammates. Players report that their AI teammates are ineffective, especially defensively, while enemy AI can feel overly scripted or 'cheating,' leading to unfair gameplay experiences.
- Clunky controls and mechanics (weight 0.15): Players express dissatisfaction with the core gameplay controls and mechanics. Issues include a lack of precise aiming or stick control, clunky movement, input lag, and problematic player switching. Specific bugs like unwanted goalie control switches also detract from the experience.
- Inconsistent goalie performance (weight 0.12): Goalie performance is a major pain point, with players reporting that their own goalies are often ineffective and prone to letting in easy goals, while opponent goalies can feel overpowered or inconsistent, leading to frustrating and seemingly unfair scoring disparities.
- Underdeveloped roguelite elements (weight 0.06): The roguelite elements are a point of contention. Some players feel they are not fleshed out enough to provide true replayability, while others believe they detract from the core hockey experience or introduce frustrating luck-based mechanics.
- Unsatisfying core gameplay (weight 0.04): General gameplay satisfaction is low for some, citing issues like unskippable animations, unsatisfying hitting and skating, and a feeling that the game is more 'scripted' or 'rubber-bandy' than a skill-based arcade sports title.
- Unfair expert difficulty (weight 0.04): The 'Expert' difficulty mode is widely criticized for feeling artificially difficult and unfair. Players report that the AI cheats, reads inputs, and that scoring becomes more about luck than skill, particularly against certain 'over-tuned' opponent types.
- Weak benchwarmer system (weight 0.04): The 'benchwarmer' system is criticized for its lack of depth and impact. Players feel these secondary characters are often too weak, randomly assigned, and offer insufficient customization or leveling options, making them unengaging.

Gameplay feedback:
- Arcade Hockey Roguelite Core (weight 0.28): The game is primarily an arcade-style hockey experience, drawing heavy inspiration from classic 90s NHL games like NHL 94 and NHL Hitz. It successfully blends this arcade hockey with roguelite elements, offering a unique and refreshing take on the sports genre. It is explicitly not a realistic hockey simulation.
- Adjustable Difficulty & Learning Curve (weight 0.08): The game offers adjustable difficulty settings, ranging from easy to expert, catering to both casual and challenging playstyles. While initially challenging, progression and upgrades make the game more manageable over time. The tutorial is brief, allowing for quick pick-up.
- Diverse Game Modes & Customization (weight 0.07): The game includes various modes such as Practice, Play Now, Tournament, and a mini-season mode. Players can also create and customize their own teams and players, adding to the replayability and personalization.
- Robust Multiplayer & Co-op (weight 0.07): The game strongly supports multiplayer, including local couch co-op and online co-op via Steam Remote Play. It can accommodate up to 10 players on the same machine and is best played with controllers, which are widely supported.
- Wacky Abilities & Customization (weight 0.06): The game features wacky and over-the-top abilities, allowing players to perform actions like throwing sticks, knocking down opponents, and using special powers. There's also an option to disable these abilities for a more traditional hockey feel.
- Meaningful Progression & Unlocks (weight 0.06): The game incorporates a meta-progression system where players can grind for stat boosts, unlock new characters, and earn currency to upgrade their team. This system ensures that players get stronger over time, enhancing replayability.
- Fast-Paced, Fluid Gameplay (weight 0.05): The gameplay is described as fast-paced, fluid, and smooth, reminiscent of old console games. It encourages experimentation with its active arcade nature and offers good replayability due to its quick runs and engaging pace.
- Structured Campaign Mode (weight 0.05): The game features a campaign mode, typically consisting of 3 acts, which can be completed in a relatively short time (around 3-4 hours for a first successful run). The campaign offers a structured progression with elite games, boss encounters, and opportunities for upgrades.
- Simplified Rules for Pace (weight 0.03): To maintain its fast pace, the game omits many traditional hockey rules like offsides and icing. This simplification contributes to quicker matches, often lasting less than 5 minutes, and a more direct, action-oriented experience.
- Simple, Controller-Optimized Controls (weight 0.03): The game features a simple and standard control scheme, primarily using three buttons, making it easy to pick up. While playable on a keyboard, a controller is highly recommended for the best experience.

Performance notes:
- Excellent overall performance (weight 0.07): Players consistently report excellent performance across a wide range of PC hardware, including high-end systems and portable devices like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally. The game maintains high frame rates and smooth animations, indicating strong optimization.
- Minor Steam Deck display issues (weight 0.03): While performance on Steam Deck is generally excellent, some users noted minor issues with screen cut-off or resolution requiring manual adjustment. These are minor inconveniences rather than game-breaking bugs.
- Critical launch and in-game bugs (weight 0.03): A subset of players experienced significant technical issues, including black screens on launch, unresponsive controls, and game freezes when attempting to access certain features like the shop or campaign. These issues severely impact the ability to play.
- Clean and responsive UI (weight 0.01): The user interface is described as clean, clear, and effective, with menus being snappy and responsive. This contributes to a positive user experience and ease of navigation.
- Post-goal performance slowdown (weight 0.01): A specific performance issue was noted where the game experiences a slowdown immediately after goals are scored. This is a minor but noticeable dip in performance during a key gameplay moment.

Recommendations:
- Highly Recommended Hockey Game (weight 0.39): Players overwhelmingly recommend this game, especially to hockey and roguelite fans, citing its fun arcade style and value for money. Many consider it the best hockey game currently available on PC, despite its Early Access status.
- Conditional Recommendation/Concerns (weight 0.11): Some players express reservations or outright do not recommend the game in its current Early Access state, citing a lack of content, repetitive gameplay, or issues with difficulty. A few even refunded the game.
- Future Content & Development (weight 0.07): Many players are excited about the game's potential and hope for continued development, content additions, and polish. They believe the game will be even better upon full release.
- Desire for Franchise Mode (weight 0.05): A significant number of players desire a franchise or season mode with long-term progression, as well as character and team customization options, to enhance replayability and depth.
- Request for Online Multiplayer (weight 0.02): Players frequently request the addition of online multiplayer, indicating it would significantly enhance their enjoyment and the game's longevity.
- Gameplay Mode & Finesse Options (weight 0.02): Players suggest adding a 'Vanilla' mode without abilities or toning down existing powers, and also express a desire for more finesse options in gameplay.
- Suggests Infinite Roguelike Mode (weight 0.01): One player suggested that an infinite roguelike mode would make the game a strong contender for Game of the Year.
- Compares to Super Mega Baseball (weight 0.01): One player hopes the game evolves to be more like Super Mega Baseball, implying a desire for similar depth and quality in a sports title.
- Request for Roller Hockey (weight 0.01): One player specifically requested the addition of roller hockey, indicating a desire for variations on the core sport.

Other player notes:
- Strong Future Potential (weight 0.19): Players are highly optimistic about the game's future, acknowledging its Early Access status and consistent developer updates. They eagerly anticipate more content, features, and overall improvements, including a proper multiplayer mode.
- Request for Fighting & New Modes (weight 0.11): Players frequently request the addition of fighting mechanics, suggesting it would significantly enhance the game's appeal and align with a more arcade-style hockey experience. They also express interest in other new modes and customization options.
- Desire for Season/Franchise Mode (weight 0.1): A significant number of players desire more traditional sports game modes, particularly a robust season or franchise mode. They envision features like team drafting, player progression, and league play to enhance long-term engagement.
- Fills PC Hockey Game Void (weight 0.05): Players appreciate the game as a much-needed hockey title on PC, filling a void left by the absence of major NHL series games. They see it as an homage to classic arcade hockey games.
- Appreciated Art Style & Charm (weight 0.05): Players consistently praise the game's art style, writing, music, and overall charming aesthetic. They find it appealing even to those who are not traditional hockey fans.
- Campaign Rework & Length Desired (weight 0.04): Players are excited for the upcoming campaign rework and hope it brings more challenge, variety, and length. They desire a longer and more replayable single-player experience.
- Anticipation for Online Multiplayer (weight 0.03): Many players are looking forward to the implementation of online co-op and multiplayer. They want to play with friends and believe a proper online mode is crucial for the game's social appeal.
- Option for Hockey Rules (Offside/Icing) (weight 0.02): Players desire the option to enable traditional hockey rules like offside and icing. They note that the absence of these rules can lead to exploitable AI behavior and impact defensive strategies.
- Roguelite Elements Feedback (weight 0.02): Some players feel the roguelite genre is oversaturated and suggest tuning down the power of roguelite elements. Conversely, others desire an infinite roguelike mode with continuous difficulty progression.
- Demand for Higher Difficulty (weight 0.02): Players are interested in higher difficulty options and want to complete all available game modes. They seek more challenging experiences beyond the regular difficulty.
- Request for Language Localization (weight 0.01): Players have specifically requested localization support for Russian and Chinese languages to make the game accessible to a wider audience.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.3): Players are highly satisfied with the game's fun, engaging, and addictive gameplay, often highlighting its unique blend of arcade hockey and roguelite elements. The game's accessibility, depth, high replayability, and strong performance, especially on Steam Deck, contribute significantly to this positive sentiment. Many reviewers also express satisfaction with the game filling a void for PC hockey games and offering a refreshing alternative to existing titles.
- Excitement (weight 0.11): Excitement stems primarily from the game's future potential, including anticipated updates, new content, and additional game modes. Players are thrilled by the fast-paced, chaotic arcade gameplay, unique hockey superpowers, and the overall quality that often surpasses expectations for indie titles. The prospect of future development and the game's current addictive nature fuel this enthusiasm.
- Joy (weight 0.1): Joy is frequently expressed due to the game's sheer fun factor, particularly when playing with friends in local co-op. The humorous elements, witty names, and unpredictable gameplay situations also contribute to a highly enjoyable experience. Players find the game ridiculously fun, engaging, and a perfect fit for their preferences, often leading to extended play sessions.
- Disappointment (weight 0.09): Disappointment arises from the game's perceived repetitiveness, lack of content, and short campaign runs, which can lead to a feeling of staleness. Players also express frustration over the absence of desired features like career/franchise modes, online multiplayer, and specific gameplay mechanics. Issues with AI behavior, low difficulty, and the game not meeting expectations for depth or replayability also contribute to this negative emotion.
- Frustration (weight 0.09): Frustration is primarily caused by AI and balancing issues, including cheating AI and inconsistent difficulty spikes. Players also report issues with clunky/unresponsive controls, unskippable animations, and various technical bugs like crashes and performance problems. The lack of a working online mode and frustrating gameplay mechanics further contribute to this sentiment.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.06): Players consistently express enjoyment due to the game's overall fun, arcade-style gameplay, and unique blend of genres. The humor, engaging campaign, and replayability are frequently cited as sources of enjoyment, whether playing solo or with friends. The game's nostalgic feel and compatibility with Steam Deck also enhance the overall positive experience.
- Anticipation (weight 0.04): Anticipation is driven by the expectation of future updates, new features, and additional content, particularly a full release and campaign reworks. Players are eager to see the game evolve and grow, with many looking forward to potential online multiplayer and more diverse game modes. This emotion reflects a strong belief in the game's future potential.
- Hope (weight 0.03): Hope is centered on the game's potential for future improvements, including bug fixes, new modes, and additional content. Players express a desire for continued development, especially for the addition of online multiplayer and more customization options. The early access status often fuels this hope for a more complete and polished experience.
- Desire (weight 0.03): Players express a strong desire for more content, including increased campaign and boss variety, and the implementation of a franchise mode. There is a significant demand for online multiplayer and additional features like specific gameplay mechanics, customization options, and language support. These desires highlight areas where players feel the game could be expanded and improved.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Nostalgia is a prominent emotion, as the game frequently reminds players of classic arcade sports titles like NHL 94, Mutant League Hockey, and NHL Hitz. The old-school feel, familiar gameplay, and overall aesthetic evoke fond memories of childhood gaming experiences. This connection to past favorites significantly enhances the game's appeal.
- Amusement (weight 0.02): Amusement stems from the game's humorous elements, including exaggerated physics, random upgrades, and funny in-game moments like goalie farts and bribing refs. The chaotic, rule-breaking nature of the gameplay and the absurdity of power-ups contribute to a highly entertaining and often hilarious experience.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the developers' consistent effort, care, and active engagement with the community, including their responsiveness to feedback and frequent updates. The game's unique genre blend, charming humor, and well-executed roguelite design are also highly valued. This appreciation extends to the game being a good example of an Early Access title.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise often arises from the game exceeding expectations, particularly for players who do not typically enjoy hockey or roguelike genres. The game's unexpected fun, humor, depth, and unique concept contribute to this positive surprise, leading many to discover an unexpected enjoyment.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Enthusiasm is a general positive sentiment driven by the game's exceptional quality, unique blend of genres, and overall fun factor. Players are highly enthusiastic about the game's concept and its potential to influence other sports titles. This emotion reflects a strong positive reception to the game's core design and features.
- Love (weight 0.01): Love for the game is expressed due to its overall quality, polished state, and continuous updates. Players deeply appreciate the game's unique blend of styles and its consistent growth. This emotion signifies a strong, enduring positive connection to the game.
- Challenge (weight 0.01): Players experience challenge due to the game's difficulty, particularly in hard mode and higher difficulties, which require skill and can be nerve-racking. Specific difficult levels or boss encounters, like 'Cup Cultists,' also contribute to this sense of challenge.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Admiration is directed towards the developers' quality, attention to detail, and active development. Players appreciate the game's overall polish and the quality of its animations. This emotion highlights respect for the craftsmanship and ongoing effort put into the game.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is primarily caused by issues such as scripted AI, control settings not saving, and the frustration of losing and having to restart runs. The perceived cheating by the game and the lack of adequate multiplayer options also contribute to this negative emotion.
- Relief (weight 0): Relief is felt when game difficulty is nerfed, technical issues are resolved, or when the game successfully fills a long-standing void for a good hockey game on PC, especially as an alternative to the NHL series. This emotion signifies a positive resolution to a previous problem or need.
- Annoyance (weight 0): Annoyance stems from issues such as long wait times between runs, the quality of the tutorial, and various technical problems. Inconsistent difficulty scaling, particularly with opposing goalies, also contributes to this minor irritation.}