Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines

98%
Game Brain Score Based on 108 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • story
Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines Game Cover
Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Chaos expands on Pablo’s adventures with interdimensional travel, a new canine companion, exhilarating boss fights, collectibles, and super-satisfying platforming. This is a worthy successor and a must-play for genre fans.
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"Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines" is a fast-paced platforming game with swinging action, magnetic panels, and fire-dashing abilities. Explore multiple worlds filled with vibrant pixel art, hidden collectibles, and challenging boss battles, with an exhilarating soundtrack by Jazz Mickle. Join the adventure with the newcomer Luna and her weaponry, as you journey across dimensions to save everything.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

98%
Audience ScoreBased on 108 reviews
gameplay23 positive mentions
grinding9 negative mentions
  • Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines improves on the original with better level design, more engaging mechanics, and the addition of a new character, Luna, who brings a fresh gameplay style.
  • The game features charming visuals, a fantastic soundtrack, and a variety of collectibles that enhance the exploration experience.
  • The platforming mechanics are tight and fluid, making for a satisfying gameplay experience that appeals to both casual players and speedrunners.
  • Some players feel that the game is easier than the original, with a reduced challenge level that may disappoint those seeking a more difficult experience.
  • Luna's gameplay, while unique, can feel overwhelming and may trivialize some level designs, leading to a less satisfying experience for players who prefer Pablo's original mechanics.
  • The new collectible system, which replaces fruit with different types of collectibles, can make 100% completion feel more tedious and less rewarding compared to the first game.
  • gameplay62 mentions

    The gameplay in the sequel to Grapple Dog introduces a new character, Luna, who adds a run-and-gun style while maintaining the original's grappling and wall-jumping mechanics, resulting in a fresh yet familiar experience. Players appreciate the balance between platforming and new mechanics, with engaging level design and a variety of power-ups that enhance the gameplay. While some find Luna's shooting mechanics less satisfying compared to Pablo's grappling focus, the overall gameplay remains tight, intuitive, and enjoyable, making it a strong recommendation for fans of the genre.

    • “The new character brings an intensely different gameplay style more akin to a run n' gun, but still keeps the grappling and wall jumping mechanics; it's pretty cool!”
    • “This second entry in the Grapple Dog series manages to deliver more of the fun, fast-paced platforming that made the first game so successful, with the addition of a multitude of new weapons and gameplay mechanics that keep it fresh and engaging.”
    • “The game plays well thanks to its tight mechanics and clever level design.”
    • “I really like playing as 2 different characters, but I do find the run and gun gameplay a bit more awkward than the simple platforming. I think combining platforming with twin-stick shooting is just a hard square to circle.”
    • “That, and the gameplay only evolved so much over the course of the game, outside of usually minor environment gimmicks and platforming difficulty.”
    • “I thought that gameplay mechanic from the first game was pretty satisfying, so it's a bit disappointing to see it removed here.”
  • music40 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its engaging and varied soundtrack, featuring a mix of funky jazz, cool guitar riffs, and ethereal tunes that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers noted a significant improvement over the original game's repetitive tracks, with more diverse themes and a polished sound that complements the vibrant pixel art and satisfying gameplay. Many players found themselves enjoying the music so much that they expressed a desire to purchase the soundtrack, highlighting its integral role in the game's appeal.

    • “The music is a banger too.”
    • “With an absolute banger soundtrack that tops the original, you'll be bobbing your head as you swing and shoot through beautiful environments and nasty enemies.”
    • “The music is overall significantly better, not that the first game's music was bad.”
    • “The first game often lacked variety - you were stuck with the same music and stage theme for stages on end, especially if you were trying to 100% things before moving on.”
    • “The music does start to fade as you get close to the band, which sometimes helps you find them, but other times they're so far off the beaten path that it doesn't help at all.”
    • “Sort of jazz jackrabbit-style music, if that makes any sense.”
  • story14 mentions

    The story in this sequel builds on the events of the first game, introducing a greater multiverse threat and deeper character motivations, particularly for Luna. While players can jump in without prior knowledge, those familiar with the original will appreciate the improved pacing and complexity. Overall, the narrative is well-crafted and engaging, leaving players wanting more.

    • “The soundtrack is still as bouncy as ever, and I'd say the story is better written this time around.”
    • “The story starts with a recap of the first game and how its events triggered the awakening of a greater threat, which will affect the multiverse.”
    • “Luna has her vendetta against the multidimensional invaders and as the story progresses, you’ll learn what makes her so cold towards others.”
    • “There's no necessary story or anything stuck in that game, just jump into this one.”
    • “Not a huge loss but still - it says something when my biggest issue with the story is that I wish there was more of it to enjoy.”
    • “The story is a bit tad bit more complex than the first game.”
  • graphics13 mentions

    The graphics of Grapple Dog are widely praised for their vibrant, imaginative style, combining flat colors with thick outlines that create a charming aesthetic reminiscent of GBA and DS titles. Players appreciate the variety in level design and the attention to detail in world-building, which enhances the overall visual experience. The game's art direction, coupled with a catchy soundtrack, contributes to its appeal as a standout platformer.

    • “The graphics remain vibrant and imaginative, the new dimensions you explore are fascinating, and the music's nice.”
    • “The stakes and spectacle are increased, and the already great artwork seems even better this time.”
    • “While I was playing through, I kept calling the graphics 'GBA/DS coded' and the music 'Hideki Naganuma coded' (the devs at least aren't shy about the latter being the case).”
    • “The graphics remain vibrant and imaginative, the new dimensions you explore are fascinating (though I felt a little weird about how in this whole multiverse thing the frogs universe gets so much focus; if it's about how many universes there are, why repeat so many levels?).”
    • “Grapple Dog’s iconic visuals return, combining flat colors with thick outlines and geometry.”
  • grinding9 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While the initial gameplay is enjoyable and encourages exploration, the later levels can become tedious due to the need to collect numerous items, such as gems and keys, to progress. Although the game is short and the grinding doesn't feel overly burdensome, some players wish for better balance in item pricing and less reliance on tedious mechanics for 100% completion.

    • “I had a lot of fun, then the levels started to get really long and grindy with finding the gems to unlock more levels and finding 20 keys to open a door.”
    • “I enjoyed the move to make the berries an actual currency to buy skins rather than another thing to collect to progress. I still needed about an hour of 'grinding' to get everything, so I kinda wish the prices were adjusted a bit towards the higher end.”
    • “The writing still has a lot of heart and charm, and it was a joy to 100% outside of the final hour of berry grinding.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is consistently praised for its sharpness and charm, with players noting that the writing is both funny and wholesome, enhancing the overall experience. However, some criticism is directed at the character Luna, who is perceived as humorless and mean-spirited, contrasting with the otherwise delightful humor found in the game's dialogue and NPC interactions.

    • “The humor and the platforming are great.”
    • “The writing is again sharp (if not sharper!) and hilarious.”
    • “The writing is always either funny or wholesome in a way that makes the entire adventure ridiculously charming.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability, encouraging players to improve their times in the time attack mode and discover hidden content. Additionally, the introduction of new playable characters for specific levels adds variety and enhances the overall experience.

    • “Overall, the game is super fun to play with lots of replay value to get the best time possible in the time attack version of each level and finding every hidden item.”
    • “I do like the new additions such as a new playable character, even if they are only available for a selected level.”
    • “The replay value is quite low, as once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to return.”
    • “While I appreciate the new additions like a new playable character, they are only available for a limited number of levels, which diminishes the overall replayability.”
    • “After finishing the game, I found that there wasn't much left to explore or experience, making it hard to justify replaying.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its charming writing, which balances humor and wholesomeness, creating an engaging and delightful adventure for players.

    • “The writing is always either funny or wholesome in a way that makes the entire adventure ridiculously charming.”
    • “The characters' journeys are deeply moving, leaving a lasting impact long after the game is over.”
    • “I found myself emotionally invested in the story, feeling every triumph and heartbreak as if they were my own.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    Reviewers note a positive shift in the game's atmosphere, highlighting a reduction in voice sample overuse and an increase in atmospheric tracks that complement the new, moody stage themes effectively.

    • “There's less overuse of voice samples and more atmospheric tracks, which combine nicely with some of the new moody stage themes.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

91% average critic score

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