Grappling hooks. Where would video gaming be without these versatile tools? Whether they’re zipping you across the sky, hurling automobiles at your enemies, yanking useful power-ups into your craw, or secretly your spouse, grappling hooks are like peanut butter—they make everything better. Only difference is, nobody’s allergic to grappling hooks.

Personally, I’m of the opinion that it’s Capcom that really put grappling hooks on the map for games. But make no mistake—this isn’t just my weekly excuse to write a blog about Bionic Commando. There have been tons of Capcom games with grappling hooks over the years. Though you might know those grappling hooks by a few different names. 

It would be a disservice to this blog and indeed, all humanity, if I didn’t give due attention to Bionic Commando, which I feel really did bring the first video game grappling hook experience to many gamers of my generation (“Generation Y” or whatever-the-hell). Granted it wasn’t explicitly called a “grappling hook” in BC, but it most certainly did grapple.

Let it not be forgotten how compellingly subversive it was in those days to have a sidescrolling action platformer on the NES where B was Shoot and A wasn’t jump. No button was jump. And dude: the game’s Bionic Arm-based swinging mechanic was really quite nuanced, and still feels good to play around with nowadays. 

↑ In an age of cookie-cutter clones, the advent of the bionic arm hinted at the potential the medium had to expand in creative, ground-breaking ways. Ostensibly just another run-’n-gun, Bionic Commando felt unlike anything else out there. 

↑ The excellent Game Boy version (available on the 3DS eShop) made subtle but useful tweaks to the mechanic.

↑ The last-gen remake, Bionic Commando: Rearmed and its sequel evolved the arm into a full-fledged weapon, allowing you to grab objects and enemies, and even send out deadly electric currents. 

↑ In the 2009 series reboot, the arm had all sorts of abilities, from hacking to “kiting” large objects, to being your dead wife. 

In late 2006, Capcom once again used the advent of a grappling hook to reinvent the modern shooter in Lost Planet. Unlike the free-wheeling, empowering swing physics of the bionic arm, the “anchor shot” was a more modest tool that demanded even more precise and careful manipulation. In the right hands, though, it could turn the heavy, plodding troops of E.D.N. III into highly mobile killing machines. 

↑ Just a glimpse of the anchor shot’s incredible depth. 

Resident Evil resident nuisance Ada Wong is known for her slinky red attire, bipolar allegiance, and of course, her grapple gun. While the device mainly functions in-game (RE4, RE6) as a scripted means of transport, it has become a symbol for the character herself, well complementing Ada’s sly, daring, and elusive personality.

Mega Man Zero 2 unleashed Zero’s Chain Rod on unsuspecting gamers, contributing to 700% increase in head-scratching that year. How the hell do you use that thing effectively?! Don’t ask me—ask YouTuber CatSkinCap . 

Holy cow. Not the easiest thing to master, but it bears all the qualities that make grappling hooks great, nevertheless. 

Of course, classic Mega Man dabbled in the grapply arts himself in Mega Man 4, where the Wire Adaptor allowed him to reach new heights. 

↑ It was of pretty limited use, but at least you could use it to cheat. 

Okami’sAmaterasu used her divine powers to manipulate vines in the environment. Not a conventional grappling hook by any means, but functionally I think it qualifies. 

The Devil May Cry series introduced a suspiciously grappling hook-like tool in the form of Nero’s Devil Bringer hand in Devil May Cry 4. Nero’s gnarly, enchanted right arm possessed the power to shoot out a larger, spectral arm that could be used to traverse large gaps, grab enemies and oncoming projectiles, and lay some serious smackdown on devilkind. 

Building on that concept, DmC Devil May Cry introduced the Ophion, a whip-like alternate form of Dante’s Rebellion sword which allowed him to deftly manipulate the positions of enemies and himself, even in midair. It also had the occasional contextual application, sometimes with nasty results. 

Even Capcom’s Disney-themed forays have dipped their toes into the font of grappling hook glory. 

Goof Troop and Magical Quest starring Mickey Mouse on the SNES each employed the handy device in different ways.

↑ The rope item in Goof Troop could be used to grab items from afar, or to bump enemies toward a humiliating demise. 

↑ When Mickey donned this Robin Hood-like costume, he gained the ability to grapple his way through Pete’s Peak, Bionic Commando style. 

Oh, and Breath of Fire fans? Don’t worry, I had a look around, and I found this:

↑ From BoF III. Seems our friend Rei is a bit overconfident in his grappling abilities. Rookie mistake. 

Phew. That’s all the ones I can think of. No doubt about it, though—grappling hooks and grappling hook-like devices make a good thing better. Did I miss any?