Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines
- September 11, 2024
- Medallion Games
Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines is a delightful 2D platformer, with slick swinging gameplay and loads of lovely collectibles to gather.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"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
Reviews
- Cosmic Canines significantly improves upon the original with polished mechanics, charming visuals, and a delightful soundtrack, making it a joy to play.
- The addition of a new character, Luna, introduces fresh gameplay dynamics and variety, enhancing the overall experience.
- The game strikes a perfect balance between casual play and speedrunning, with tight controls and engaging level design that encourages exploration and 100% completion.
- Some players find Luna's gameplay mechanics to be overly powerful, potentially trivializing certain levels and making the experience less satisfying.
- The removal of the fruit-collecting mechanic in favor of a shop system has left some players feeling that exploration is less rewarding.
- A few minor bugs and control issues, particularly with Luna's aiming and movement, can detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay47 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Grapple Dog: Cosmic Canines" is praised for its engaging grapple mechanics and improved level design, offering a satisfying blend of platforming and new power-ups. While the introduction of a second character, Luna, adds variety, her shooting mechanics may feel less intuitive compared to the original character, Pablo, whose gameplay retains its charm. Overall, the game balances complexity and accessibility, making it enjoyable for both casual and experienced players.
“It isn't just the smooth gameplay, but the way everything in it is built.”
“This second entry in the Grapple Dog series manages to deliver more of the fun, fast-paced platforming which made the first game so successful, with the addition of a multitude of new weapons and gameplay mechanics which keep it fresh and engaging.”
“Level design is solid, gameplay and movement mechanics are expertly designed and very satisfying, and there's decent challenge to be had.”
“Very few gameplay shakeups.”
“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.”
- music30 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its significant improvement over the original, featuring a diverse and engaging soundtrack that includes funky jazz, ethereal tunes, and cool guitar riffs. Reviewers noted the reduction in repetitiveness, with varied themes accompanying different levels, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Many described the soundtrack as a standout element, with some even comparing it to the works of Hideki Naganuma, making it a memorable aspect of the game.
“The pixel art is stellar, the gameplay is somewhat simple yet satisfying and fun, and the music and sheer amount of polish makes it a very well-rounded experience.”
“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.”
“Amazing music, gorgeous art, and extremely tight platforming.”
“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 pacing is much improved from the first game; it feels like they took the themed level approach from the first game and just scattered them throughout the story, which really helps reduce the tedium of going through a world with the same theme throughout with the same song playing throughout.”
“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.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and imaginative design, reminiscent of GBA and DS titles, which enhances the overall charm and appeal. Players appreciate the detailed artwork and the variety in level design, complemented by a catchy soundtrack that adds to the immersive experience. The game's aesthetics, while cute and silly, are noted for their competence in supporting the platforming mechanics and world-building.
“The graphics remain vibrant and imaginative, the new dimensions you explore are fascinating, and the music's nice; I'm definitely going to buy the soundtrack.”
“The stakes and spectacle are increased, and the already great artwork seems even better this time.”
“Fantastic variety in the level artwork and music so far, and more funny writing in the little NPCs you encounter.”
“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?).”
“Kind of a sleeper hit, which, despite its cute/silly aesthetics (which I love), is a really competent platformer!”
- story8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The story in the game is surprisingly engaging, with a warm and continuous narrative that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the improved pacing and thematic variety compared to its predecessor, making the journey feel less repetitive. While some feel the story could be more complex, the charm and momentum keep players invested, leaving them wanting more.
“The story is more than you would expect from a game with a name like Grapple Dogs.”
“In case you're hesitant to trust that Cosmic Canines can live up to its predecessor, the original charm is as strong as ever here, and your momentum (literally and figuratively) just keeps building as you work your way through the story.”
“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.”
“There's no necessary story or anything stuck in that game, just jump into this one.”
“The story is a bit more complex than the first game.”
“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.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game manageable, as it is not overly time-consuming due to the game's short length. While collecting berries for cosmetic upgrades adds a fun layer of exploration, some players feel that the grinding required to 100% the game could be improved, particularly regarding the pricing of items and the necessity of tedious mechanics like wall-climbing to find hidden collectibles. Overall, the grinding is seen as a minor drawback in an otherwise enjoyable experience.
“I enjoyed the move to make the berries an actual currency to buy skins rather than another thing to collect to progress. However, 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.”
“You can even use the dashes and gun hovering to jankily climb a vertical wall, but it's slow and tedious—which would be fine if it were never actually needed, but 100%ing the game does require it.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently sharp and hilarious, contributing to a charming adventure filled with funny and wholesome moments. However, some characters, like Luna, may come off as humorless or mean-spirited, which can detract from the overall comedic experience. The variety in level design and amusing interactions with NPCs further enhance the game's comedic appeal.
“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.”
“Fantastic variety in the level artwork and music so far, and more funny writing in little NPCs you encounter.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative 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 felt a genuine connection to the story, as it beautifully explores themes of love, loss, and redemption.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the added replayability from new features, such as a new playable character, although some note that these characters are limited to specific levels.
“The new additions, like the new playable character, really enhance the replayability, even if they are only available for specific levels.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh due to the variety of choices and paths you can take.”
“The game encourages multiple runs with its branching storylines and unlockable content.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices that would encourage me to replay it.”
“Once you complete the main story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
“The limited variety in gameplay mechanics makes replaying feel tedious rather than enjoyable.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is enhanced by a reduction in voice samples, allowing for more immersive 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.”
Critic Reviews
Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines review
Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines is a delightful 2D platformer, with slick swinging gameplay and loads of lovely collectibles to gather.
90%Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines PC Review
Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines is a charming romp though a bright and colourful world that makes fantastic use of its mechanics in order to fully engage the player.
86%Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines Review
86%
