Review: Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Chaos (Nintendo Switch)

Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Chaos is the follow-up to the 2022 hit platformer, Grapple Dog. This time, as the name implies, there are two canines present, each wielding grappling hooks in more epic platforming conditions. And it proves to be just as much fun.

You won’t need to have played the original outing to enjoy this sequel. Cosmic Chaos picks up from Pablo the dog’s victory over the evil robot, Nul. Interestingly, Nul has seen the error of his ways, and is now part of Pablo’s wacky crew. They’re joined once again by Toni (a bunny) and the Professor (a peacock), but it’s newcomer Luna who rounds out this group of misfits. I’ll get to her shortly.

Grapple Dogs stands apart in so many ways. Firstly, it begins with a surprisingly in-depth introduction for a platformer. I’m used to superfluous, high-level intros followed by level after level of running and jumping. That’s fine of course, but Grapple Dogs does things differently, stepping up a few notches with plenty of back story to catch you up, as well as cutscenes between levels. It helps you connect with these characters as you journey towards saving the multiverse. Yes, multiverse. Don’t let that overused term put you off, though.

Multiverses might be a dime a dozen these days, but Grapple Dogs doesn’t take itself too seriously. Instead of running into (or avoiding) alternate versions of yourself, Cosmic Chaos features six unique worlds hosted in different dimensions. These worlds are hiding special stones that must be reunited in order to avoid complete destruction by one of the biggest baddies I’ve ever seen. Literally. He can’t even fit on the screen in his epic final boss battle.

While this world-ending business is full of intensity at times, it’s balanced with a cute, cartoony approach and plenty of humor. Despite the odds, Pablo maintains his happy-go-lucky approach of always looking on the bright side. Conversely, Luna provides the brooding darkness that perfectly complements Pablo’s unbridled optimism. Their chalk-and-cheese personalities extend to how they perform in the platforming arena, too, providing an extra layer of variety to keep things interesting.

Gameplay is deceptively simple. Pablo and Luna sport a nifty grappling hook that can latch on to certain surfaces, allowing you to swing across gaps, spikes, enemies; you name it. It encourages exploration, perfect for finding the many hidden objects scattered throughout each level. There are three gems and a treasure chest to find, each of which is checked off a list as you go. There’s even a little bonus discoverable in the form of a peacock band. While this isn’t counted among the collectibles within the menu, it’s a fun (and tricky) thing to find.

While Pablo can jump on enemies, Luna sports a gun, bringing two quite different ways to play. Luna can also perform a mid-air dash, super handy for reaching tricky areas. I love that you’re not able to switch between the two dogs during levels. No, that would be too obvious. Instead, some levels are cleverly dedicated to Pablo, others to Luna. A little icon on the world map indicates which dog will tackle each level. It adds to the variety, though players are sure to have their favorite canine. A two-player mode could be fun, but then the levels would have to be redesigned since they currently cater for different pooches.

Grapple Dogs is a challenging outing. If you’re a platforming enthusiast, this will be right up your alley. There are some creative levels on offer, with some spectacular power-ups thrown in for good measure. Pablo can don an electric suit that allows him to skate on power grids, for instance. Luna can find new types of guns that are super fun to use. The layout and jumps are well designed, proving to be one of the best platformers I’ve seen since Mario.

Traversing between dimensions is also an absolute joy. Each world is uniquely designed, from cityscapes to jungles. One world features angry frog-like creatures who seem to be on the verge of civil war. One is black and white like an old movie. The creativity throughout the entire outing is evident, providing an easy reason to keep playing simply to see what’s next. Each world is also interspersed with mini time-trial levels. In these, you must race against the clock to earn rewards, usually collecting gems or shooting targets. These are a quick and fun break from the main story.

Let’s talk boss fights. These are super creative, with some fiendish foes waiting at the end of each world. They have patterns to learn, but with robots, lasers, pits, and even molten lava being flung at you, they’re no walk in the park. Grapple Dogs has some accessibility options, such as unlimited jumps, to help if you get stuck. There are also plenty of save points throughout the levels to help you restart if you perish.

Overall, Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Chaos expands nicely on Pablo’s adventures, taking him into exciting new territory. With interdimensional travel, a new canine companion, exhilarating boss fights, collectibles, and super-satisfying platforming, this sequel is a worthy successor and a must-play for genre fans.