A pair years in the past, a small studio known as Medallion Video games launched a cute platformer known as Grapple Canine, which as you may most likely guess, is a platformer a couple of canine with a grappling hook. The easy premise performed host to an impressively well-made and satisfying journey that felt like a significant homage to — and evolution of — traditional platformer recreation design, though it by no means fairly captured the viewers that it deserved. Clearly gross sales had been ample to justify a sequel, nonetheless, and Medallion Video games has now graced us with Grapple Canines: Cosmic Canines. This sophomore outing for Pablo and associates proves to be a fair stronger recreation than the primary one, and we’d extremely counsel you give it a glance if you happen to’re a fan of 2D platformers.
Grapple Canines picks up nearly instantly the place its predecessor left off, which teased that Pablo’s journey wasn’t fairly over together with his defeat of the robotic, Nul. It seems that Nul’s antics inadvertently launched an evil godlike being named Vyr, which threatens to destroy the whole multiverse if the 4 items of the shattered Allkrystal aren’t collected. Pablo isn’t the one hero whose universe has a stake on this brewing battle, nonetheless, and he is quickly joined on his quest by one other grapple canine named Luna—a no-nonsense, gun-wielding pup who doesn’t have time to play good. Collectively, the 2 got down to monitor down the items of the Allkrystal and hopefully discover a method to defeat Vyr earlier than all is misplaced.
It’s a easy sufficient story, one buoyed strongly by the varied interactions between our two heroes and the supporting solid. Plus, Luna could be very a lot the Shadow to Pablo’s Sonic, resulting in loads of amusing dialogues between them the place her abrasive manner clashes with Pablo’s unfettered optimism and friendliness. Such interactions assist elevate Grapple Canines throughout the realm of platformers, because the charming characters and corny humour sprinkled all through the incredible gameplay assist make this world stand out.
Very like the primary recreation, Grapple Canines feels just like the misplaced GBA motion platformer you by no means knew you had been lacking, tasking you with guiding the titular canine via linear ranges and bonus levels that throw all types of inventive gimmicks, collectibles, and enemies your manner. The principle gimmick this time is the addition of Luna, whose moveset differs from Pablo’s in some key methods. She has a robust midair sprint she will use for repositioning, and he or she’s all the time brandishing a firearm of some form which may be fired with a faucet of the correct set off. Pablo has additionally acquired a couple of upgrades since his final journey; he can now do a quick-dash assault on the bottom and a stronger stomp assault that features him a little bit extra peak than his base soar.
Every canine has distinct levels designed round their strengths, and nearly each stage introduces a brand new power-up or mechanic that differentiates it from the others whereas additionally taking part in round with every character’s moveset in fascinating methods. In a single stage Luna is given a grenade launcher that causes earthy spots she shoots to sprout greenery, giving her new locations to climb and grapple to. In the meantime, a memorable stage for Pablo sees him exploring a silhouetted world with platforms and obstacles that change in accordance with the beat of the stage’s music. There’s all the time one thing cool to sit up for no matter which character you’re taking part in, and we appreciated how a lot Grapple Canines focuses on exploring a various vary of recent gameplay ideas all through its run.
Although you may simply merely dash for the top of the stage, Grapple Canines presents loads of collectibles to maintain completionists busy. Levels total really feel longer with extra verticality in comparison with the primary recreation, and every one comprises three jewels to gather together with a hidden treasure chest that homes a brand new beauty. The jewels are linked to your essential development—unlocking the following set of ranges requires discovering a specific amount of them from the degrees out there to you—and sometimes you’ll must put in work on particularly troublesome platforming gauntlets or hold your eyes peeled for some cleverly hidden pathways to nab all of them. Followers of the Donkey Kong Nation video games will discover heaps to like right here; we discovered that chasing down the collectibles in Grapple Canines scratched that very same itch.
Whereas the primary recreation made gathering all of the fruit in a stage a requirement for whole completion, this time across the fruit has been retooled to have one other function. Not solely is there much more of it, however now you can take your stockpile to a store run by Toni and purchase new outfits and well being upgrades. This not solely permits you to loosen up the neurotic impulse to gather actually every part in a stage, but it surely offers you one thing to really do with the fruit past gathering it for the sake of it.
There’s additionally a smattering of bonus levels scattered throughout the primary map that you simply unlock with fruit, and these provide some nice one-shot challenges that basically take a look at your information of every character’s motion talents. With these, you’re positioned in a small, timed stage and given an goal like smashing each crate or reaching a aim in a set period of time, a bit like these outdated “break the targets” challenges within the earlier Tremendous Smash Bros. video games. These levels are over nearly as shortly as they start, however they provide a pleasant change in tempo from the longer levels and really feel like they meaningfully add to the gameplay loop.
Visually, Grapple Canines sticks to the efficient not-quite-retro artwork fashion that made the unique such a looker, increasing on it via the design of the various worlds. Whether or not you’re blasting via the rain-soaked hellscape of a world dominated by a fascist frog regime or swinging via the slick, neon skies of a futuristic monkey utopia, every stage seems to be meaningfully distinct from the final and is memorable in its personal manner. But, the cartoonish attraction of those levels stays constant regardless.
These visuals are accompanied effectively by a hip-hop and pop-infused soundtrack that feels straight out of the early-to-mid-2000s. There’s a really summery and carefree tone to lots of the tracks, which matches the bouncy gameplay effectively as you sail over enemies together with your grappling hook and certain throughout platforms. Contemplating how typically indie devs will go for some form of chiptune-inspired music, it’s good to listen to a well-executed soundtrack that goes in a distinct course, and it definitely seems like an important match for the general tone.
The one criticism now we have about Grapple Canines is extra of a nitpick. There are a number of instances all through the expertise that are awkwardly devoid of any sound. Whether or not watching a totally quiet cutscene or shopping Toni’s store with none cute music or sound results to accompany menu navigation, there have been a couple of too many instances once we puzzled, ‘What’s happening?’ and needed to double examine to verify the sound didn’t by some means change into muted. That is extra of an irritation than a critical difficulty, however the issue is prevalent sufficient that it does are inclined to take you out of the expertise a bit.
That apart, it’s powerful to argue that Grapple Canines accomplishes something lower than what an excellent sequel ought to goal to. The primary recreation was already a wonderful hidden gem, however this new launch each refines all of the gameplay ideas launched there and introduces a complete host of recent concepts that meaningfully construct upon them. In so doing, it delivers much more strongly on the clear imaginative and prescient of a pure and easy platformer that focuses on giving the participant a enjoyable expertise above all else.
Conclusion
Grapple Canines: Cosmic Canines is every part followers may hope for in a sequel, because it improves upon each facet that made the primary Grapple Canine so nice. Sturdy stage design, a incredible soundtrack, excessive gameplay selection, and many replayability make this one a simple advice to anybody in search of a wonderful, pure platformer so as to add to their Change library. It is probably the most enjoyable platformer we’ve performed in fairly some time.
