Publisher: Mommy’s Best Games
Developer: Mommy’s Best Games
Genre: Action-Adventure
Release date: Q4 2009

During my trip to E3 I was able to meet with Nathan Fouts from Mommy’s Best Games to discuss and play his next project, Grapple Buggy. Some of you might be familiar with his first game, Weapon of Choice, which won multiple awards as one of the best XBL Community games of 2008. As a follow up to Weapon, Grapple Buggy is looking to not only surpass Weapon‘s success, but to be one of the best adventure games on XBLA.

In Grapple Buggy you assume the role of pilot Nova Commander Javeya, and control the grapple buggy on a newly discovered planet named VALD-END 317. The planet has massive amounts of “Vald,” which is used to create fuel for faster-than-light travel, and you have been sent to the planet to confirm readings that show how rich in Vald the planet is. Buggy promises to have a much deeper story than Weapon did. Fouts told me that throughout the game the story will be revealed through conversations with other characters. Fouts is admittedly a big fan of science fiction, and he plans to let that show in this new project.

Grapple Buggy is all about exploration. The world of VALD-END is a unique place that you will have to traverse using the grapple arm on your buggy. Along the way you’ll find new areas and the many creatures that inhabit the planet. The creatures themselves are just going about their everyday lives while you search their world. From my experience with the demo, it seems that many of these creatures will not attack you unless they feel threatened. This is a unique element, because usually everything is an enemy in this genre. The controls are easy to use, with one button controlling your arm and allowing you to swing or grab and hold an unfortunate creature, which can then be thrown. The buggy is also very “sticky” and can drive up almost anything; there were moments when I was practically upside down driving the buggy.

As the game’s title implies, this buggy sure can grapple. Those familiar with Weapon of Choice will remember how your character would jump close to a ledge or cave ceiling and grappling arms would automatically deploy from your character’s back. Grapple Buggy uses this technique to help you get around, but it also takes this element to the next level. Using a tip from Bionic Commando, it allows you to deploy your arm and swing over gaps to progress through a level. This is not only useful but essential to get your buggy through the strange world of VALD-END.

I was able to experience the exploration that Grapple Buggy provides in the short demo that I was able to play. In the demo I found myself traveling in an area filled with lush plants and creatures. I eventually came to a point where my buggy could no longer progress through the level. I had to backtrack and find an alternate route that led me to one of the game’s mini-bosses. By using the environment (and some innocent creatures) I was able to topple the massive enemy and unlock a new power for my buggy. This allowed me to traverse the previously impassable obstacle and progress further on the planet.

Grapple Buggy looks like it’s shaping up to be an excellent game. Fouts is still unsure whether it will be another Xbox Community Game or if it will be released as a full blown XBLA title. I hope it ends up the latter, which will allow for better sales and more exposure. For anyone who has ever played and enjoyed a Metroid title, this game will be for you. Grapple Buggy is set to launch some time this fall. Be prepared to get your Grapple on!