Grapple Dog lets you hook, swing, and wall jump across its world. And once you get really good with those powers, you can really get this dog moving.
Pablo (who you can pet, because I imagine you’re wondering), can get around pretty fast when you get good with him. He’s got a grappling hook that lets you do quick swings, building up momentum in a hurry. You can bounce off enemies as you flip through the air, and land inside explosive devices that will keep you hurrying forward. If you bump into a wall, you can hop off of it, treating this dog like some sort of furry pinball. These skills give you tons of ability to get around the tricky environments loaded with spikes and traps. Which is why it’s good that your powers feel so intuitive, because you’re going to be in danger quickly.
As your comfort with your powers grows, you’ll be able to push yourself a bit harder and faster. Maybe you can do a segment without touching the ground. Get some extra momentum to clear more than one hazard at a time. There’s lots of extra, out-of-the-way stuff to collect where you’ll need to really know the abilities well. Likewise, the environments seem to beg you to try risky new stunts as you get better with your grappling. Not that you HAVE to want to push yourself as hard as possible (although there’s a Time Trial mode if that’s what you want to try). There’s also some accessibility options to give you a bit more leeway with your swings and jumps, so you can take this journey in a way that suits you best.
Grapple Dog feels wonderful when its various mechanics click together. Again, they all come together very well, and once they do, it’s a blast to see just how fast you can clear a stage, or how little you can touch the ground while doing it.
Grapple Dog is available now on the Nintendo eShop and Steam.
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