Hook Worlds

CNET Editors' review

by: Jason Parker on August 08, 2011

Hook Worlds is the latest sequel to one of our all-time favorite game franchises in the escape genre on iOS, Hook Champ. Though there are four different game types in Hook Worlds, the object remains mostly the same as in its predecessors: use your grappling hook to swing from object to object to achieve the longest distance possible. The graphics are smooth with high frame rates as you swing through caves, under rooftops, and over hot lava. Unlike the earlier games in the genre, Hook Worlds has dynamically created maps with no end--you simply need to last as long as possible.

Hook Worlds offers a few different game types to add more challenges on top of the basic mechanic and to give the app more replay value. The first game type offers the original high-speed chase found in the earlier games, and you're given rocket boots with which to get out of sticky situations. The second is called bounty gunner: as you swing through the levels, you'll also have to shoot ghost pirates, with your grappling hook control on the right side of the screen, and your weapons on the left. The third game type is about obstacle survival, because along with your grappling hook, you have a reverse-gravity belt so you can switch from swinging from the ceiling of the map to swinging from the floor. The final game type is called Hook Champ 1000, which gives you a pixel throwback to classic arcade games, but don't let the simple graphics fool you--this one might be the hardest of all.

All the game types offer their own unique challenges and you play as different characters for each one. We found that even playing for some time, we could switch game types to fall in love with the game all over again. Maybe it's because it reminds us of arcade classic Bionic Commando, but whatever the draw is, it keeps us coming back for more.

If you like escape-genre games where you go for the greatest distance, or were a fan of Bionic Commando in its heyday, we strongly recommend that you check out Hook Worlds.