There was excitement and thrill. There was a cavalcade of emotions when I popped in my favorite platformer into my Genesis back in the day, of course, that platformer was the famous Blue Blur himself, Sonic The Hedgehog. I couldn’t wait for the colors, the speed, the sounds, the levels, the sheer color of it all. Jungles, caves, temples, all running as fast as humanely possible while saving the world from an evil mad scientist hell-bent on turning all into robot slaves. It was a far different time, perhaps even better than the present. Gone are the days when games were made for pure fun and escapism, replaced by a need to rely on seriousness and trend towards the narratives of current social events. However, a new game, Grapple Dog, looks to revitalize those feelings.
Even in today’s times, there comes a time when a game can just remind you how fun and charming games can be, and the kind of emotions a game of that nature can bring. Grapple Dog from Jo Gribbin and Super Rare Game is one such title, a simple title with a remarkably vibrant and bright presentation, backed up by a strong gameplay mechanic. Grapple Dog is a reminder of the unbridled fun and joy of platformers and is easily the most enjoyable time I’ve had with a grappling hook since the original Bionic Commando.
Story Plot
Long ago, there was a great inventor, who sought to create new devices and tools to better the world around him. The land and the people around him thrived at the invention of such creations. These fabled tools were known as the Cosmic Gadgets, and they possessed great power and ability. Great power attracts those that wish to use such power for evil, in a last-ditch effort,t The Inventor scattered the cosmic gadgets. In a quest to find these gadgets, a young dog named Pablo, and his crew of explorers, uncover one such gadget, and awaken the evil that sought to secure these gadgets for their own use. Now, faced with the destruction of the world, Pablo and his friends set off to find the gadgets and end the evil robot army that threatens to enslave all.
Gameplay
Grapple Dog is an action platform, greatly inspired by the famous platformers of the 9s. In Grapple Dog, players played as Pablo, the young canine explorer who now wields the Grappling Hook. Players play through a multitude of levels, collecting berries, crystal shards, and destroying robots, all the while dodging obstacles. Players run, jump, climb, and stomp their way through each level, but the biggest focus is on the grappling hook. Wherever there is a blue object, such as a ceiling or balloon, players may use their grapple. The grappling hook gives players precise input as to where to place their shot, while also providing incredible speed and momentum to escape threats and leap over obstacles.
Each level has several checkpoints to start from, should players lose their health during a level. Grapple Dog contains a large list of accessibility options for players unfamiliar with platformers, including the option to eliminate taking damage from enemies or obstacles. The key to progress in Grapple Dog is to collect enough purple crystal shards to meet the end boss of the section. These crystals are scattered across each level and may require trial-and-error, as well as a sharp attention to precision to be able to grab the more elusive shards. If players choose to, they may revisit levels to participate in the Time Trial Modes, where players race as fast as possible through each level.
Art Style/Graphics
The first thing that strikes players is the astounding art style of Grapple Hook. It’s endearing and overwhelmingly positive, from the bold, cartoon outlines to the vibrant color palette. Grapple Dog is unapologetically bright and colorful, with an abundance of boldness to show for it. It’s a striking contrast to the more muted color palettes often seen today. Additionally, Grapple Dog uses a bolder, more presentable outline. Sharp outlines surround each character, the enemies, and the themes of the levels, creating an eye-popping effect that draws players into the game. There is a sensation of fluidity and impression throughout every pixel of Grapple Dog that makes the game a standout among other indie games.
The visual choices give the constant sensation of speed and motion as if to encourage players to whips through each stage in a swift and precise motion. It makes every moment in Grapple Dog aesthetically pleasing. There are plenty of vistas to see as well, from the bustling beach to the underground caverns to the cliffs and plains, and even volcanic mountainsides. There is an abundance of sharp vistas to see and explore in Grapple Dog. In some ways, Grapple Dog reminds me of a title I would have seen on the PSP or Game Boy Advance, with its focus on sharp, bold outlines. Visuals can only get a game so far, and in Grapple Dog the gameplay delivers.
Controls
Precise, controllable, and sharp, the platforming action of Grapple Dog is engaging, smooth, and fast, but never frustrating or hostile to the player.
Grapple hooks have quite a history in gaming, and Grapple Dog is most reminiscent of Capcom’s famous cyborg platformer, Bionic Commando, where players could not jump but had to rely on unerring accuracy with their bionic arm to swing across obstacles. In Grapple Dog players can jump, but that feeling of swinging and momentum is present and polished to a sheen. The mechanic harkens back to my earlier nostalgia of Sonic The Hedgehog and Bionic Commando, as there is a keen precision and sensation of speed and movement.
The mechanics feel tightened and refined to a sharp frequency. Moving Pablo never feels fidgety, or as the cool kids say today, janky. It feels just right. The sensation of weight, movement, swinging, all into an engaging platform mechanic that is tremendous fun to use and play. There is a sense of reward as well when I was able to pull off a tough swing across a platform to attain a gem or berries. Of course, the levels grow over time to introduce new ways to use the grapple hooks, just as jumping platforms sink into lava and activate surfaces to bounce between walls. There’s plenty to work within Grapple Dog, with the game’s 33 levels and the Time Trial challenges the game presents.
Fighting enemies is simple, focusing on that famous stomp that we have seen on other platforms. Pablo can flip and spin almost into a ball on top of enemies, a mechanic learned early on as the same move is required to break boxes and reveal jumping platforms. Some enemies do allow you to use the grapple hook to destroy them and even leap upon certain platforms.
Nostalgic throwback
Grapple Dog isn’t about nostalgia, but also reminding players that the joy of video games should be shared with as many people as possible. The accessibility options allow players not to take damage, and to simply enjoy the experience of the game. This simple feature allows players to learn and grow with Grapple Dog at their own pace, learning the mechanics and playing as they see fit. Looking back on the many platformers I played, especially Sonic The Hedgehog 2 and that infamous final battle with no health, I wish we could have had such a feature growing up, and I am glad that the developer has incorporated it into the game.
Having played many games, some serious, and some fun, it’s just nice to play a game filled with so much color and focused on good fun with an enjoyable tale to tell, especially for these tough times. I’ll add that as a hospital employee and reviewer, it’s simply nice to play something as bright as Grapple Dog in the midst of so much grief. Games are always a reminder of the joy of escape and interactive experiences and discovering a new world. Grapple Dog doesn’t have massive hours of content or a giant story to tell that ties into the relevance of the world, but that is the point. A tale of a dog, and his explorers, stopping a robot army from destroying the world, all the while using an advanced grappling hook.
Energetic Soundtrack
I also greatly complement the game’s composer, Jazz Mickle, who creates an energetic and memorable soundtrack that’s upbeat and assertively kinetic, with big bass, beats, and vocals. Clearly, it’s inspired by the Sonic games, and that inspiration shines through and through. There’s so much charm packed into Grapple Dog, that even you can, at the end of some levels, pet the dog.
Minor Grievances & Takeaways
Any grievances with Grapple Dogg are very minor. The game isn’t very long but it does carry quite a bit of gameplay for completionists. There is also the use of the B button to confirm selections, as opposed to A, and there isn’t a rumble feature for gameplay, but these are minor grievances compared to the overall satisfaction of the game. If anything, I could imagine the game being longer with more levels and more boss fights, but what we have is more than ok.
Grapple Dog is a memorable, enjoyable, and overwhelmingly positive platformer game, bringing so much color to a gaming space that needs it. Its familiar gameplay mechanics are excellent for both the experienced and those unfamiliar with games. Grapple Dog should stand as a strong reminder of what games can do for us emotionally and to never stop pursuing the desire for play and enjoyment. It’s my hope I see more games like this. Grapple Dog is a good boi.
Grapple Dog was reviewed on the Nintendo Switch OLED thanks to a key generously supplied by Super Rare Games
