Grappling Hook Demo

Portal was quite the revolutionary video game when it first hit the market, thanks to the ingenious gameplay mechanics and the addictive puzzles that kept you going level after level. Many other games tried to copy its success, by integrating similar mechanics into their formula and changing the theme altogether, albeit the final result was not always worth the bother.

Grappling Hook comes pretty close to Portal’s idea, yet it changes just enough elements to appear original at the same time. The main goal is to collect objects scattered around the levels, while jumping from ledge to ledge, using a grappling hook to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. The levels get increasingly more difficult to navigate as you advance, which makes the game that much more attractive.

There’s not much of a background story to follow as you go along, so you definitely won’t be able to create any kind of emotional bond with the game. The challenge itself and the tricky sections can be worthy of remembering, though, especially if they happen to put some pressure on you. Otherwise, there are no characters to speak of, nor any kind of plot to unravel.

Solid level design can make the difference between a good game and a bad one, especially in the case of a puzzle game such as this one. Fortunately, the title at hand passes the test with flying colors, thanks to the ingenious stages you get to navigate along the way. There are plenty of sections that require fast reflexes and good coordination, which means that the quickload button becomes your best friend after a while.

Visually, the game is certainly not impressive, but it does a lot with very little at its disposal. The colors are bright and the objects are smooth, even if there’s usually not much to see, other than cubes and platforms of different sizes. The environments flow smoothly from one section to the other, so you quickly get used with the overall style.

In the end, Grappling Hook provides you with a unique experience and it can fill large gaps in your spare time, if you let it. There are some problems you might stumble into, but they are not game-breaking and the challenge is usually worth the minor inconveniences.