Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines is a delightful follow up to the original 2022 platformer Grapple Dog, and it brings with it an extra dose of charm, creativity, and, of course, dogs with grappling hooks. This time, you’re not just playing as Pablo; there’s a new dog in town, Luna, who brings an entirely fresh playstyle to the game. However, even though this is a sequel, you don’t need to have played the first game to jump in and have a great time.
Picking up where Grapple Dog left off, Pablo and his crew, now including his former nemesis, Nul, find themselves sucked into a wormhole and transported to a strange new land. The story is a bit familiar: a world in peril, an all-powerful being losing their power, and our hero is the prophesied chosen one to save the day. While it’s not groundbreaking narrative-wise, it serves its purpose well in keeping the adventure moving across six unique and creatively designed worlds.
The gameplay is where Cosmic Canines truly shines. Each level is crafted around clever platforming challenges, with the grappling hook as your primary means of navigation. Pablo plays like in the first game, with his signature bounce attack and grappling skills intact. But the real surprise is Luna. She’s introduced early on and shakes up the gameplay. Her character pairs well against Pablo’s more lighthearted fair. Luna is a darker, more aggressive character, think Sonic and Shadow. Like Shadow, Luna brings gunplay to the table and a mid-air dash. An exciting contrast to Pablo’s happier approach and the switch in playstyle keeps things fresh.
Unfortunately, you can’t swap between Pablo and Luna freely during levels. Each level is designed around the specific abilities of one dog, so you’ll need to follow the game’s lead on which pup to use. This limitation is a missed opportunity for co-op, especially since co-op play could have taken the experience to a new level. The absence of a story-based co-op mode is a bit disappointing, but building on this game, I could see Medallion Games implementing the feature in the future.
Despite this, the levels themselves are varied and offer fun challenges. In addition to the standard platforming, there are hidden collectibles, like gems and treasure chests, spread throughout, adding a layer of exploration. The mini-game lands, which act as time trial challenges, inject just the right amount of variety to keep things from feeling too repetitive. But within the levels, you’ll find some gimmicks that will keep things fresh, like Power-ups. You’ll run into places where Pablo will put on an electric suit that helps him speed through electrified grates, and Luna also gets some gun-focused combat power-ups. The difficulty curve is fair, with some levels and bosses proving tricky, but never to the point of frustration.
Overall, Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines is an impressive platformer with engaging mechanics, a charming cast of characters, and plenty of challenges to keep you hooked. The lighthearted tone and challenging gameplay make it stand out among other platformers and should be up there with Mario and Sonic. If you loved the first game, you’ll feel right at home, and if you’re new to the series, this sequel is a perfect place to start. It’s safe to say that Grapple Dogs continues to be a very good dog, and this latest adventure deserves all the head rubs.
A Steam code was provided in advance by the publisher for review purposes
