Hook Worlds Review
+ Universal App
FREE! Buy now!

Hook Worlds Review

Our Review by Carter Dotson on December 16th, 2010
Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar :: WORLDLY DELIGHTS
Share This:

Hook Worlds is the latest grappling hook game from Rocketcat Games, featuring new variations on the endless modes introduced in Super QuickHook.

Developer: Rocketcat Games
Price: $0.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Device Reviewed On: iPad

Graphics / Sound Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar
Game Controls Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar
Gameplay Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar
Replay Value Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar

Overall Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar

Hook Worlds is the final game in Rocketcat Games' hook-swinging game trilogy, following Hook Champ and Super QuickHook. This game features 4 endless modes for you to play. There's "Curse of the Watcher," which is all about surviving as long as you can while outrunning a cursed creature like the ones from Hook Champ. The mode initially available to early adopters, "Hook Champ 1000" plays similarly, but features graphics straight out of the early 80's..and crazy difficulty to match. "Bounty Gunner" is all about coin collection, giving you a gun to shoot enemies that drop health and coins for you. Finally, there's "Cybergnome 202X," which is about outrunning the enemy chasing after you, but your special ability in this mode is the ability to switch gravity; hope you get used to running on the ceiling and grappling on the floor.

The game modes present a great variety in the gameplay. Most endless games focus on one set of mechanics - this game mixes them up in each mode, providing gametypes that all feel familiar, yet play differently. "Curse of the Watcher" and "Hook Champ 1000" focus on pure swinging and survival, while "Bounty Gunner" brings an offensive twist to the series that plays unlike anything the previous Hook games. As well, "Cybergnome 202X" thankfully proves that gravity switching can work in an endless game, it's just how it's implemented. This mode can be a real mindscrew the first few times you play it - but as you get used to running on the ceilings and latching to the floor to swing, it becomes incredibly fun. One level design element that helps out especially in "Cybergnome 202X," but is present in all the modes, are the up and down arrows in the level backgrounds, as they show you which direction you should be heading in.

While the controls for the game are still great, there is a lot more automation in the game - you are constantly running forward, which is a necessary feature for an endless game, although it feels weird at first. As well, the hook controls are now a simple one button press to automatically hook in the optimal direction. The problem is that jumping over small obstacles is also controlled by this button, and it can cause issues where you think you're making a small jump and you wind up throwing a rope at an odd angle at a latch point you had no clue about. Also, this is the 3rd Hook game in about a year, and not too long after Super QuickHook had been updated with the Avalanche mode. This just doesn't feel as fresh as Super QuickHook did.

But still, while this is Rocketcat Games' 3rd Hook game, each title stands on its own and is distinctive in its own ways. And the gameplay is still has maniacally addictive as ever, and comes at an unbeatable $0.99 price. If you've been looking to get into the series but haven't tried it yet, or loved Super QuickHook's endless modes, this is a perfect pickup.

iPhone Screenshots

(click to enlarge)

Hook Worlds - GameClub screenshot 1 Hook Worlds - GameClub screenshot 2 Hook Worlds - GameClub screenshot 3 Hook Worlds - GameClub screenshot 4 Hook Worlds - GameClub screenshot 5

iPad Screenshots

(click to enlarge)

Hook Worlds - GameClub screenshot 6 Hook Worlds - GameClub screenshot 7 Hook Worlds - GameClub screenshot 8 Hook Worlds - GameClub screenshot 9 Hook Worlds - GameClub screenshot 10
Share This: