Indie Game Pick: Grappling Hook (Speed Run Games)
Like with Portal, the use of momentum and timing is crucial to success. Many puzzles involve letting go of the grappling hook at just the right time to propel yourself to safety, while others require firing in mid-air and latching onto surfaces that may not have been visible when firmly on the ground.
It's wonderful stuff. Starting off at a slow pace, you're giving the opportunity to get used to the grapple gun before the more taxing situations come into play. Just check the video above for examples of just how difficult it can get - perfect, precision play is essential for making sure you land on the required platform and not across the other side of the room instead, and later levels love asking you to jump into the unknown, seemingly destined for death but then a glimmer of green emerges and, with a skillful aim, you're back on track.
With great gameplay comes style too. An Arnie-sounding announcer will constantly give you the thumbs up, shouting 'good job!' and 'excellent!' as difficult puzzles are bypassed. There are also a whole bundle of achievements to collect, for all you achievement nymphomaniacs out there (including myself!). Then, once you're plugged your way through normal mode, there's a hard mode too - just in case you wanted to rip some more hair from your head. Each level has challenges too, ranging from 'complete level quickly' to 'don't die'.
You're looking at around 90 minutes of gameplay from normal mode, then probably about 5+ hours if being a completist is your kind of thing. The full game is $22.94 (£15.63) to buy which is possibly a little steep, but only a bit. Your best bet is to try out the demo (which includes 5 levels) and see what you think.
Comments
I wouldn't call that a grappling hook
Posted by: robolee | October 3, 2009 6:06 PM
Seens like a pretty good game, but i really didn't dig the grafics, with only colored blocks you don't have anything to look forward, just make puzzle after puzzle, it would be a orgasmatic sensation to climb a giant statue, then from up there look down to all the stage you just got thro.
Posted by: JustMe | October 3, 2009 6:17 PM
Dl'ing now, looks like fun. Not many indies make FPS games, and this one seems to be done well.
Posted by: Michael | October 3, 2009 6:38 PM
# 3.0 Ghz processor, 1 GB RAM
# Minimum: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 / ATI Radeon X700
*looks at screenshots*
*looks at system requirements*
Fuck it.
Posted by: Karry | October 3, 2009 7:42 PM
What! This isn't a grappling hook, it's a hookshot. : (
Posted by: Kyle | October 3, 2009 9:30 PM
I just finished the demo. Great stuff!
Posted by: Bob | October 3, 2009 9:44 PM
"There are also a whole bundle of achievements to collect, for all you achievement nymphomaniacs out there (including myself!)."
So, this means everytime you play good you get to hump an "achievement"?
I don't get it...
Anyways, looking good. Will try later...
Posted by: XSportSeeker | October 3, 2009 11:06 PM
Saw this earlier this week and almost recommended it from the trailer, but when I downloaded the game I discovered it needed way more machine than I was packing and I didn't like how the grappling hook handled when I could get it to run. The spring mechanic is fine and they use it well, but I'd prefer something that swung instead. Kind of a first person bionic commando. But that's just me.
Posted by: Joe Larson | October 4, 2009 1:40 AM
Yay another game trying to compare itself to portal.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 4, 2009 4:11 AM
It's not comparing itself to Portal. The guy writing the article is.
Posted by: AlbeyAmakiir | October 4, 2009 6:30 AM
"# 3.0 Ghz processor, 1 GB RAM
# Minimum: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 / ATI Radeon X700
*looks at screenshots*
*looks at system requirements*
Fuck it."
OMG HOW CAN HE RECOMMEND A 6 YEAR OLD VIDEO CARD, HOW CAN I RUN THIS ON MY 386 NOW?!
Posted by: Anonymous | October 4, 2009 8:22 AM
Reminds me of Purity by JP LeBreton:
http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=1811.0
Posted by: Aubrey | October 4, 2009 4:42 PM
would not mind seeing this come to WiiWare or the DS....
Posted by: Kenny | October 4, 2009 7:13 PM
Honestly, I think those minimum requirements are wrong.
It doesn't look that complex, and it runs super smooth maxed out (then again, my specs surpass the requirements).
Also, was this made in Java or something? It just seems sort of weird that it requires it (not a problem though, as most people have Java installed).
Posted by: Bob | October 5, 2009 2:35 AM
It is made in Java, using jMonkeyEngine engine.
Posted by: J | October 5, 2009 10:11 PM
Reminds me of Quake a little bit. Looks very fun.
Posted by: Legendary Hoamaru | October 6, 2009 10:40 PM