Someone finally made the grappling hook Metroidvania of my dreams

gamesradar.com:

I've been on a Metroidvania kick for, I don't know, eight years, and it's set to continue with the lovely indie Rusted Moss (opens in new tab) now serving up the physics-based grappling hook search-action adventure that's been in the back of my mind for years. 

Rusted Moss is a blend of twin-stick shooting and 2D platforming, and it's all grounded in a fun little grappling hook. It's set in a world which is barreling toward war between humanity and the fae, and changeling protagonist Fern is caught in the middle with her shadowy friend Puck, who also doubles as your grapple. 

I've tested (and praised) some grappling hooks in my day, so I speak with some authority when I say Rusted Moss has a good one. It's more toward the bungee jump side of physics than the arcing Spider-Man swing, but it fits the size and shape of the game's world. 

I gave its free Steam demo a quick play, and I'm pleased to report that the grapple is quickly introduced and feels good to use. It feels like the kind of mechanic that would suit a Castlevania game built around the iconic whip, which I guess is high praise for a Metroidvania. I'd jump into a pit, launch a grapple upward on my way down, stop my descent just before touching the spikes at the bottom, then rocket upward as the tension in the line caught up to me. 

The physics are a little exaggerated, but in a fun and springy way that gives you some extra room for error. It's immediately satisfying and understandable in a kinetic way, and I can already tell how high the skill ceiling can be for this kind of movement, especially with rocket jumping also in the mix. There's a lot of room for creativity in how you reach areas, and this seems like a more organic way to gate off certain sections of