While GameSkinny typically focuses on video games, we also have room for all forms of gaming. We embrace table top, roleplaying, card games, and now…playground games. Because, why not? “Tag,” also known as “You’re It!” or “The Assassin Game,” is the most iconic of all playground games and I figured it would be an interesting experiment to review this game as though it were any other… besides, I’m in a mood for satire.
My dear sir, you appear to be “it”
Tag typically involves one or more players (refered to as “it”) chasing the other players around in order to touch them (tag them), usually by hand. Some variations allow for tackling and other forms of bodily contact or FREAKING LASERS instead of hand-touches. In addition to this base rule, most variations of the game also state a “no tag-backs” rule: once a player tags another, they have temporary tag-immunity until another player is tagged.
That’s about it. That’s the game.
Infinite Variation
Holy crap, the multiplayer in this game is amazing! The strongest point of interest in Tag is the incredible allowance for variation. Because the game is defined by the players every new round, the players can diplomatically decide to alter the rules of play. Besides the basic parameters, absolutely everything is up for variation, including: the method of tagging, equipment, scores, number of taggers, location, and any other rules that can be conceived of.
Actually, many other playground games are really just complicated variations of Tag.
- Fishy Fishy
- British Bulldog
- Duck Duck Goose
- Freeze Tag
- Chain Tag
- Laser Tag
- Flashlight Tag
- Shadow Tag
- Capture the Flag
- Kiss Tag
- Shipwreck
- Infection
- Marco Polo
- Snowball Tag
- Hide and Seek
… and many others are all essentially other game modes of Tag. This is Tag’s greatest strength. Without the binding confines of a rigid computational system, Tag is allowed infinite variation. Your imagination (well, and ability to get other players to co-operate) is the only limit. Suck on that, so-called “sand box” games.
Abandoned granary we found NEW MAP, YOU GUYS!
Another great point of variation is the nearly limitless number of maps available. Any large space can be a playfield. Maps with with environmental hazards tend to be the most fun – some of my personal favorites are heavily wooded areas, unsuspecting neighborhoods, large playgrounds, and abandoned industrial complexes. Any place you can get to can be a map. This means that Tag has unprecedented replayability.
And the best part? No map pack DLC required! BAM!
Multiplayer Only – But Without Matchmaking
While infinite variation sounds incredible in practice, there are some crippling issues with Tag. Tag requires a minimum of three players and, even then, is barely fun with only three. Typical games work best with any healthy number above 7, this is a game designed to scale with large groups of players. Actually, Tag can withstand as many people as you can fit on whatever playfield you determine. It actually has the capacity to be an MMO (Massively Multiplayer Offline).
There is, however, no built-in matchmaking whatsoever. For gamers spoiled by the ever advancing matchmaking systems from popular multiplayer games, like League of Legends or Starcraft, this will be a rude awakening. You will actually have to go out and actively find other players to join your game on your own.
This isn’t couch co-op, this is door-knocking co-op.
And that’s awesome.
Although the multiplayer is stellar, far beyond any other game on the market, the lack of built-in matchmaking takes away from the perfect multiplayer experience. Maybe next patch… Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend Tag for everyone!*
* “Everyone” is my own rating; game not yet rated by the ERSB. Experiences may vary.
Photo credit: Bill F., acquaintance.
