This upcoming holiday season and the first quarter of 2022 are going to be huge for video games, regardless of what platform gamers prefer. With Halo Infinite launching in December and Horizon Forbidden West only a few months behind in February, gamers have a lot to look forward to in the coming months. Horizon Forbidden West and Halo Infinite also have a specific mechanic in common that fans of both franchises are excited about.
Both the Horizon and Halo franchises are adding a grappling hook mechanic to each upcoming title. Each is a little bit different, but based on what's been seen so far, both mechanics look like they'll be extremely fun to use. Historically, grappling hook mechanics always add a fun dimension to traversal and combat mechanics, and hopefully, its inclusion in two of the biggest upcoming games is the start of a trend.
Halo Infinite's Grappleshot Explained
For the first time in the Halo franchise, Halo Infinite is adding a grappling hook mechanic called the Grappleshot. While it's not quite as fast-paced as a lot of other games using similar mechanics, the Grappleshot adds a lot of unique opportunities for strategy. Most obviously, the Grappleshot can be used to propel to higher locations, but it can also be used to pull enemies closer or snatch items that are far away. It was revealed last year, but players have finally gotten to test it out in the game.
Players have already been creative in using the Grappleshot in Halo Infinite's multiplayer, achieving some insane results like running cars off of cliffs and then grappling back. When the game comes out in December, players are sure to discover a ton of new and innovative ways to use the Grappleshot to their advantage. Considering the gameplay possibilities, it's actually crazy that Halo hasn't had some kind of grappling hook before now.
As fun as Halo Infinite's Grappleshot is, though, it is limited in what it can do. That's a good thing since it could create an unfair advantage in many cases. First, players need to track one down somewhere on the map. Once players have a Grappleshot in their possession, they only have three chances to use it. Limiting the Grappleshot forces players to strategize and save their three shots for the opportune moment, which can be pretty exciting to pull off.
Horizon Forbidden West's Pullcaster Explained
Horizon Forbidden West is another major title adding a grappling hook mechanic. Aloy has a ton of new tools to use in Forbidden West and the grappling hook (officially called a Pullcaster) is just one of them, but it looks like a game-changer. One of Horizon Zero Dawn's biggest critiques was the lackluster climbing mechanic, and Guerrilla Games definitely listened.
In Forbidden West, Aloy can climb more places without needing yellow handholds, but the Pullcaster takes the traversal mechanics to a new level. In the event she gets swarmed by machines, Aloy can quickly use the Pullcaster to zip out of trouble, at least long enough to re-evaluate the situation and come up with a new game plan. It makes encounters a lot more dynamic and gives players to creatively use the environment to their advantage.
The Pullcaster also offers a whole new dimension to exploration in Forbidden West. Horizon Zero Dawn is known for its stunning environments, and Forbidden West is certainly continuing in that tradition. The game world looks incredible, and the Pullcaster will make it easier for players to see the world from above and explore places that would be hard to reach otherwise.
How Other Games Use Grappling Hook Mechanics
While grappling hooks are appearing in more and more major games, Horizon Forbidden West and Halo Infinite aren't exactly reinventing the wheel. Grappling hooks have been featured in games for quite some time and have been present in several major games like Sekiro, Uncharted 4, the Arkham games, and arguably in Spider-Man. More recent games like It Takes Two, Returnal, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, and Kena: Bridge of Spirits have also included grappling hook mechanics.
Grappling hook mechanics can just be for traversal purposes, like in Kena: Bridge of Spirits and It Takes Two, adding some flavor to the platforming and showcasing the environment. In other games, though, grappling hooks can be an essential part of stealth and combat. Sekiro's stealth system heavily relies on the grappling hook. If players need to make a quick getaway- which happens often in Sekiro- the grappling hook is usually the safest way to get some distance from a challenging enemy.
Spider-Man's web-slingers are also essential in combat and have a huge influence on the rest of the game. Obviously, Spider-Man is a bit unique because his "grappling hook" is an essential part of his character, but it's such a fun mechanic and it would be great to see something similar seamlessly implemented into other games.
Grappling Hooks Enhance Level Design
Grappling hooks also mean that games can be a lot more creative about level design. For any game using a grappling hook mechanic, there have to be opportunities to use it. That means games need to have a lot more depth. Grappling hooks allow developers to engage the player on multiple planes, forcing them to be aware of their surroundings above and below in addition to what's around them.
It's hard to describe exactly why grappling hooks are so much fun in games, but there's a reason why the web-slinging in Marvel's Spider-Man is one of the best traversal mechanics out there. There's just something about swinging around and flying through the air, even virtually. Having a grappling hook mechanic allows players to push boundaries and test their creativity, and they fit in almost any video game whether it's modern, post-apocalyptic, or ancient.
Just about every game that has a grappling hook is better for it. They're always fun to use and add a lot of dimension to video games. It's great to see big games like Horizon Forbidden West and Halo Infinite adding grappling hooks, and if more developers catch on it could continue to be a trend going forward.
Halo Infinite will release on December 8, 2021, for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Horizon Forbidden West will release February 18, 2022, for PS4 and PS5.