Grapple Force Rena is the perfect example of taking an idea, doing everything that can be done with it, and then ending before the idea can get old.
The premise is simple enough: you have a grapple beam. You can jump and use the beam to grab onto things, and you can throw anything you carry.
So, everything that can be done with those ideas is done with them:
Grab onto things and swing from them.
Grab enemies and throw them at other enemies, or the ground.
Grab vehicles to pull yourself to them so you can ride them, then throw them to dismount.
Grab enemy projectiles and throw them back.
Grab onto a ceiling or floor to prevent yourself from being blown away by powerful gusts of air.
Grab onto a wall and pull yourself towards it and climb it.
Ideas are introduced as the game goes along, as you find more things that can be done with the grapple mechanic, new obstacle and enemy types, and so on. Even old mainstays such as the Escort Mission have unique twists, like the ability to pick up and throw the guy you're escorting. Collection missions don't require collecting everything, either. Some very nice Anti-Frustration Features that make potentially annoying missions more fun.
I'm not big on the retro look and feel, which seems designed to invoke the creator's personal nostalgia for the Sega Genesis/Megadrive, but at the same time, the game is made entirely by one person (except for the team that did the music), so I have huge respect for that. This is a personal vision, complete with an interesting story and sense of humor that feel like they came from someone who could have written a good webcomic, but instead put their writing skill into a platform game.
I do have a few minor issues. I don't like the small part of the game where you have to play as Pine. And I wish standard enemies didn't take two slams to kill, as I feel one - or one if they're thrown at another enemy, for extra damage perhaps - would work better for pacing. But overall, I find this to be a great quickie to play through when I'm in the mood for some fun, fast action. It throws ideas at me one after another, then ends before it can outstay its welcome, without wasting any time with padding. I understand why game developers feel the need to stretch out their games, so that people feel like they got good value for their money, but there's something to be said for a game that's short and sweet.
Does everything it can with its premise
Grapple Force Rena is the perfect example of taking an idea, doing everything that can be done with it, and then ending before the idea can get old.
The premise is simple enough: you have a grapple beam. You can jump and use the beam to grab onto things, and you can throw anything you carry.
So, everything that can be done with those ideas is done with them:
Ideas are introduced as the game goes along, as you find more things that can be done with the grapple mechanic, new obstacle and enemy types, and so on. Even old mainstays such as the Escort Mission have unique twists, like the ability to pick up and throw the guy you're escorting. Collection missions don't require collecting everything, either. Some very nice Anti-Frustration Features that make potentially annoying missions more fun.
I'm not big on the retro look and feel, which seems designed to invoke the creator's personal nostalgia for the Sega Genesis/Megadrive, but at the same time, the game is made entirely by one person (except for the team that did the music), so I have huge respect for that. This is a personal vision, complete with an interesting story and sense of humor that feel like they came from someone who could have written a good webcomic, but instead put their writing skill into a platform game.
I do have a few minor issues. I don't like the small part of the game where you have to play as Pine. And I wish standard enemies didn't take two slams to kill, as I feel one - or one if they're thrown at another enemy, for extra damage perhaps - would work better for pacing. But overall, I find this to be a great quickie to play through when I'm in the mood for some fun, fast action. It throws ideas at me one after another, then ends before it can outstay its welcome, without wasting any time with padding. I understand why game developers feel the need to stretch out their games, so that people feel like they got good value for their money, but there's something to be said for a game that's short and sweet.