Cyber Hook is a fast and fun first-person platformer that challenges you to go faster and faster with each inevitable death. Though I would have liked the occasional checkpoint in some of the longer stages, the tight gameplay and cool aesthetic make Cyber Hook a thrilling rush to play.
Cyber Hook
Developer: Blazing Stick
Price: $15
Platform: PC
MonsterVine was supplied with a PC code for review
I’ve previewed Cyber Hook before and spoken about how the short demo was great at utilizing breakneck speeds in its platforming. Now that I’ve played the full game, I can say that the entire game is full of exciting and flashy levels that encourage shortcuts and risky play to make for a flashy and addictive first-person platformer.
The main gameplay mechanics revolve around your character’s hook. Using the mouse, you can shoot your hook at most platforms in order to swing from it. You can then use the momentum gained from running and swinging to dive across gaps or over huge chasms until you reach the goal in each stage. The simple gameplay loop of hooking onto platforms and zooming through the air is riveting, and the game’s quick respawn speed keeps you from being out of the adrenaline-filled action for long.
As you progress through Cyber Hook, you obtain additional powers that make platforming more complex and dynamic. The new powers include the ability to slow down time, shoot projectiles from your finger, and the ability to slide on walls to obtain additional jumps. This keeps new levels from becoming tired rather effectively, as stages become trials of creativity as much as reflexes. You could choose to wall-slide back and forth or get enough momentum to swing under or over that same section of the level. The variety of ways to complete most levels makes every stage fun, regardless of length or number of deaths. I do wish some of the longer levels had checkpoints, but you do learn how to clear these stages more quickly, so it’s still fun without checkpoints.
“The visuals and audio are excellent, striking a strong balance between relaxing nostalgia and electric energy.“
There’s also a ranking system for each stage that gives you a set number of crystals out of a possible three depending on how fast you finish a level. I found myself retrying levels when I just barely missed the time for another crystal, leading to some very tense moments as I blazed through a stage repeatedly. The times are all very fair, so I never felt frustrated. There’s also a ranking system that shows how well you’ve done compared to others in your country, which provides some additional fun competition to each stage.
The visuals and audio are excellent, striking a strong balance between relaxing nostalgia and electric energy. The platforms and backgrounds are vibrant and colorful while the music is hard-hitting and fast-paced techno. It perfectly fits the breakneck atmosphere of Cyber Hook, as it’s quite colorful when you’re flying by at mach speed.
The Final Word
Cyber Hook is as fun as it is fast, and rest assured, it is very fast. There are plenty of levels that each provide their own challenges and plenty of ways to complete levels by thinking outside the box. If that’s not enough, it looks and sounds great, making Cyber Hook a pleasant package for any adrenaline junkies.
MonsterVine Review Score: 4.5 out of 5 – Great
