Grapple Force Rena
- December 4, 2018
- T. Ashley Jenkins
Get on Steam"Grapple Force Rena" is a fast-paced, anime-inspired platformer where you swing and grapple your way through various stages. With a unique art style and challenging gameplay, players must master the grappling hook mechanics to navigate through levels and defeat enemies. The game also features a local multiplayer mode, allowing for head-to-head battles or cooperative play.
PC
Windows
Linux
Xbox
Reviews
- The grappling mechanics are fun and well-implemented, allowing for creative gameplay and exploration.
- The game features charming visuals, a delightful soundtrack, and a lighthearted story that keeps players engaged.
- Each level offers unique challenges and objectives, making the gameplay feel fresh and varied throughout.
- The game is relatively short, with some players feeling it lacks depth and replayability beyond initial playthroughs.
- Some levels can feel frustrating due to unclear objectives or awkward design, leading to moments of confusion.
- The story has plot holes and unresolved threads, which may leave players unsatisfied with the narrative conclusion.
- gameplay85 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Grapple Force Rena" is centered around a polished and satisfying grappling mechanic that allows for creative movement and combat, making it both fun and engaging. While the game features a simple control scheme and a charming aesthetic, some players noted a learning curve and occasional frustrations with level design. Overall, the game successfully combines humor, varied challenges, and a unique gameplay style that appeals to both casual players and those seeking more skilled play.
“The gameplay is a good mix of fun, challenge, and comedy.”
“Very fun game designed around the grappling mechanics; it's a bit short and not very ambitious, but the grappling gameplay is so polished and satisfying that it makes up for it.”
“The grappling mechanics are so flowy and satisfying, and the levels make really good sandboxes to play with them in.”
“My biggest gripe is that the range on the grappling bracelets kept feeling just a little too short, which is just as much a level design complaint as it is an issue with the mechanics.”
“Near the end of the game, the mediocre gameplay and loose mechanics become very apparent when stages become irritating to beat instead of being fun.”
“I feel as if the dev who made this game wanted desperately to have a grapple mechanic and made a whole game based around it without ever asking whether or not said mechanic was even fun to use.”
- story72 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of "Grapple Force Rena" is generally described as charming and lighthearted, featuring a simple yet engaging plot centered around a tomboy named Rena who must save her village from invaders. While the narrative includes humorous moments and well-written characters, it suffers from plot holes and an abrupt ending that leaves several threads unresolved, suggesting potential for a sequel. Overall, players appreciate the story's sincerity and humor, though some find it lacks depth and clarity in the latter stages.
“The presentation is also great, with wonderful music, distinct locations to explore, and an extremely charming story.”
“The story is very good; while on the surface it looks like your standard 'go and defeat the bad guys,' there are some pretty good moments that talk about the nature of being a hero, especially at the end, which offers very good advice.”
“The story is simple and cute, with a lot of funny moments and a colorful cast of characters (Pine probably being my favorite).”
“The story and big cast of characters are cute and well-written -- but the story unfortunately ends on a cliffhanger, and that's my only real sticking point: just when it gets you interested in the world and drops you into deeper waters narratively speaking, it kind of poops out.”
“The story is filled with plot holes that don't get a proper explanation ever.”
“Without giving too much away, it's kind of like they had the plot for the first game in a series, but then they cut that short, and very abruptly before it gets its proper climax, so they can have the next two worlds just be a storyline that would've worked for another game of equal length.”
- music49 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic Sega Genesis-inspired FM synth style, with many players expressing their love for the catchy and upbeat soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. The variety of tracks, including character themes and stage music, adds depth, and the ability to unlock and listen to these tracks in-game is a notable feature. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's charming aesthetic and engaging atmosphere.
“The music is juicy, the pixel graphics are juicy.”
“I especially fell in love with the main menu music - it's so catchy to my ears!”
“The soundtrack is upbeat and does a good job of creating a proper mood for the levels.”
“The title screen music sounds boring and lifeless, but the chiptunes I've heard so far are decent.”
“The music definitely nails the Mega Drive/Genesis aesthetic, and the game is fairly visually nice, though some of the environments feel a bit barren in terms of detail.”
“Not quite 'fantastic,' but definitely better than 'good.' One thing it does well is have a lot of music - character themes, character boss themes, multiple stage themes, and so on.”
- graphics23 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, which evokes nostalgia for the Sega Genesis era. Reviewers highlight the detailed character designs and vibrant environments, although some note that certain areas may feel a bit sparse. Overall, the visuals are described as cute and well-polished, complementing the game's upbeat tone and engaging gameplay.
“The pixel graphics for the game are really good, nicely made and pretty detailed with plenty of interesting scenery and character designs.”
“On top of it all is a bright, colorful pixel art style that fits the upbeat tone of the game perfectly, along with a banging soundtrack that places the game square in retro Genesis territory.”
“The retro graphics!”
“On graphics side character sprites and environments look pretty and vivid.”
“Graphics and sound/music are very reminiscent of 16-bit or later Sega platformers and quite well polished.”
- humor19 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is widely praised for its fun and engaging dialogue, featuring quirky characters and lighthearted interactions that evoke laughter. Players appreciate the charming aesthetic and memorable moments, with a blend of simple, cute storytelling and clever satire that keeps the experience enjoyable. Overall, the humor adds significant personality to the game, making it a delightful experience for players.
“I laughed out loud at plenty of funny lines, and it's not often that a video game makes me do that.”
“You can tell this game draws inspiration from the Genesis era, but it has such a sense of humor.”
“The game has personality without a doubt, and the dialogue is funny and cute.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game offers a high degree of replayability, primarily driven by its challenging achievements and ranking system, which encourages players to improve their skills and complete time trials. While the main campaign is relatively short, the engaging mechanics and boss fights provide enough incentive for players to revisit levels for better scores, though some may find replay value limited after the initial playthrough. Overall, the combination of skill-based challenges and fluid gameplay enhances the game's longevity.
“Boss fights really shine, and just navigating the levels alone is a fun thrill, with a ton of replayability in a sometimes very harsh grading system. This game is begging you to use that time trial mode and to get good at it.”
“Although the game is short, it's highly replayable and only becomes more fluid as the player becomes more experienced with the grapple.”
“A lot of replay value, though that depends on how masochistic you are given the degree of perfection this game asks for a great number of its achievements.”
“It doesn't require one to be perfect, but it and the achievements provide a welcome challenge that adds a lot of replay value to the game.”
“Note that there's not a whole lot of replay value after the five hours or so it took me to beat it - just swinging through the levels again for better scores (as far as I know, there might be secrets).”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the pixel graphics and character designs are praised for their quality and detail, the reviews do not provide specific insights into the depth or progression of character development within the game. Overall, the focus seems to be more on the visual appeal rather than the narrative or emotional growth of the characters.
“The pixel graphics for the game are really good, nicely made and pretty detailed with plenty of interesting scenery and character designs.”
“Great character designs.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game elicits a light-hearted emotional response, providing a brief escape that can bring a smile without deep emotional investment. While it may not evoke tears or strong feelings, it serves as a casual, enjoyable experience for quick play sessions.
“Because this game made me feel just like its protagonist at the end.”
“This game evokes a deep emotional connection, making you truly feel for the characters and their journeys.”
“The story and character development left me feeling a range of emotions, from joy to sadness, making it a memorable experience.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that the game has stability issues, noting that it can be buggy at times.
“The only downside is that it can be buggy.”
“I frequently encounter crashes that disrupt my gameplay.”
“The game often freezes, making it frustrating to play.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players note that while grinding in the game can occasionally feel tedious, it is not a significant drawback to the overall experience.
“The only issue I have, and it's really not a horrific one, is that a few of the levels veer more tedious than fun.”
