[EXPlay] Cyber Hook (Nintendo Switch)

Welcome to EXPlay, (Explain & Play) the review series where we care not for scores but tell it how it is when it comes to every game we get our hands on, whilst also taking the time to include some lengthy gameplay, to give you the reader, the chance to shape your own impressions and views whilst watching and reading. In this installment, we’re covering Cyber Hook by developer Blazing Hook.

Cyber Hook: (The Explanation)

Cyber Hook is a fast-paced, first-person action game that has you race to the goal of a retrowave world whilst performing crazy jumps at rapid speeds. How you reach the goal is up to you and the only limitation is your own imagination.

Throughout each level of Cyber Hook, the obstacles may change but the objective remains the same: Reach the goal. The faster you reach the goal, the more crystals you can receive and improve your placement in the world leaderboards. As you begin to run, you will gradually build up speed and become a literal unstoppable mass but be warned, not all spaces and platforms are safe. Immediate contact with a red or purple wall or floor is instant death and you will have to repeat the whole stage again.

As regards to other color-coded objects, green blocks can be blasted away with your finger gun and you can use your Cyber Hook to grapple onto blue blocks, walls, ceilings and floors. You can pull yourself towards them by holding ZR and let go with the L button. The L button also allows you to jump and you can even double jump too.

When things get a little tricky for you or a little too fast for your liking, you can simply slow down time for a short period with the ZR button. This can sometimes provide you with just enough time to recover from a mistake or miscalculation in a jump. With the power to slow down time, grapple hook towards platforms and being able to blast enemies with your finger gun, you have an unlimited amount of ways to beat each stage.

I do feel that Cyber Hook has the potential to do more with itself. A Time Attack Mode or a game mode where players could take it in turns to get the best time or perhaps local competitive multiplayer would be a welcome addition. I see the possibility of perhaps a free demo that allows local multiplayer play could be ideal to encourage other players to eventually pick up the full game for themselves.

The game does offer the option to watch replays of your best runs and has quite an extensive Settings Menu with the option for players to change all sorts of parameters to suit their individual playstyle. For example, you can change the size of the field of view, hide the character’s hands from view, activate or deactivate gyro controls, limit screen shake, and more.

Cyber Hook is a game that can be tricky to get the hang of first but once you master the use of each tool, you will be swinging your way through each stage like SpiderMan with the speed of The Flash. It does become quite addictive as you learn from your mistakes and have to make another run and another run, simply because you know you can do better.

Cyber Hook: (The Gameplay)

Game Specifications:

Developer: Blazing Stick
Publisher: Graffiti Games
Platform: Nintendo Switch (eShop)
Category: Action, First-Person, Platformer, Racing
No. of Players: 1 player
Release Date: June 24, 2021 (EU & NA)
Price: $14.99
File Size: 1.4 GB
Nintendo.com Listing