Heart Core has revealed that its cyber bike boss rush game Gripper is “coming soon” to Nintendo Switch.
Set in a dystopian world plagued with mystery and loss, you play as None, a cyber bike riding, grapple hook-wielding hero who is on a mission to find and rescue his family. That will challenge you to make “vital narrative choices, navigate torturous terrain and face off against some ferocious foes.”
Pitched as “a story-driven action game with boss fights on wheels,” you must tear your enemies apart using your grappling hook to rip out their metal hearts to recover the memory of a loved one and equip your cyber bike with a new ability – whether that be to increase the power of the grapple hook, mount a rail gun on the back or to deploy enemy-seeking drones.
“We’re eager to get players into the exciting world of Gripper so that they can experience the engaging emotional core and enthralling action that we’ve been working on for the past few years,” explains Heart Core co-founder Kirill Zolovkin.
“To be so close to launch is a joy and we’re looking to challenge players both with the game’s dynamic bosses, and with the overarching story of love, loss and attempting to overcome grief.
“The idea was born when I lost my mother, and as a game designer, I wanted to express my feelings through gameplay. Such sensitive emotional topics are usually covered in adventure games, but I dreamt of a boss fight game where each boss is a stage of grief. Throughout the game you literally tear enemies apart to reveal their hearts, which sing with voices of those who you lost. Each one gives you an ability. Once you regain them all you are ready to rescue your family. Rather, you rescue yourself. It was never about gripping and ripping, but letting it go.”
The developer has outlined the game’s key features as below:
- Grip it and Rip It: Tear enemies apart with your bike’s hook and finish them with their own weapons.
- Have a Heart: Discover and rip out the hearts of colossal bosses to gain new abilities.
- Apocalypse Acclamation: Explore post-apocalyptic cyberpunk biomes which will form a vast world to travel through.
- Tunnel Vision: Ride through nightmarish tunnels to the beat of incredible tracks, staying alert for Quick Time Events and flying debris.
- Better Yourself: Obtain upgrade points to gain access to improved health, shields and gadgets.
- The Heart (Core) of It All: Immerse yourself in the story and metaphor surrounding each boss.
Gripper will release digitally on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch worldwide in 2023.
