Gripper is an action arcade racer for Nintendo Switch. It combines sci-fi elements, a rocking synth-based soundtrack and different gameplay styles to deliver a unique bike-based experience. Unfortunately, we don’t always stick to landing.
Things start off well, with an intro reminiscent of a sci-fi anime. Their constant electronic messages across time and space hint at his desperation for his return. That is until their final message asking him to stay away. Cue the bad guys.
Why did you decide to go back just because you told me not to go back? But he does. Now he’s all grown up and sports a futuristic-looking motorcycle, and instead of finding his loving parents waiting with open arms, he’s a giant head made of rock. find zero. Zero took over None’s parent’s lab – guess what? – Hence the world. There isn’t much explanation of how or why the zero is there. Or even the planet we are on. Story details may not matter in an action title, but unfortunately this lack of clarity extends throughout the game.
Gripper has two main styles of gameplay. First, the adrenaline-pumping driving section. These twist and turn in his 360-degree tunnels, similar to Mario Kart’s anti-gravity course. You can’t speed up or slow down, you can’t shoot. Your only goal is to dodge obstacles and open gateways. This proves to be a challenging feat, as giant spikes pop out of the ground at just a few milliseconds of notice. is. And I’m trying And I’m trying Ultimately, death comes quickly and often until you memorize sharp object placements and successfully navigate tunnels. I’d lost count of how many times I’d died before, but it felt good to finally succeed.
As a reprieve, you are treated to a boss fight. These top-down duties are also done on top of the trusty cycle, pulling grip hooks to pull bosses away, grabbing and throwing other debris around. It quickly becomes apparent that you rely on to complete each section.
I’m fine with titles that are tough as nails, but Gripper takes it to a ridiculous level. meaning But it is very tricky. No helpful tutorials, no difficulty settings to adjust. You are simply thrust straight into its thickness. Again, don’t rely too much on luck. It feels like an unfair balance of skill and luck, especially in boss fights. Before, very often.
The game seems to make things difficult due to its poor design choices. For example, certain on-screen elements may be difficult to see. Tunnel Race suddenly asks you to press either ZL or ZR, shoot gates with agility or slide under openings. These tiny instructions were hard to decipher, especially in handheld mode, and relied more on memory of previous attempts than actual on-screen triggers. It also took some trial and error before I realized that I needed to press the button associated with the specific time. I didn’t understand why it kept crashing even though I pressed the correct button. As mentioned above, the instructions are sorely lacking.
On the plus side, the graphics are decent, with dark hues reminiscent of a world at stake.The cutscenes are great, and there are some great animations that help complete the sci-fi style. Tunnel races also look great, with fast-paced travel through dangerous planets.
As for the soundtrack, two factors come into play. Voice work is fine, although a bit repetitive. Some of the characters, especially your trusty cat-like toy robots, can be annoying. Meanwhile, the soundtrack stands out as the best aspect of the overall experience. Beats work well in this world and keep your heart pounding. The game asks you to play with headphones on first, and I can understand why.
Overall, Gripper is an interesting mix of adrenaline-pumping racing sections and top-down boss battles. The difficulty level is a worthwhile challenge for the die-hard, but the gameplay belies itself and somehow misses the point of the challenge. It’s unlikely that it will be a title that comes back after many deaths.
