Get-A-Grip Chip is a platformer developed and published by Redstart Interactive, which is finally coming to Nintendo Switch almost a year after its launch on PC. It ensures that the Switch now has one of the most unique platform games released in recent times. The title sees players thrust into the role of Chip, a tiny robot attempting to recover hundreds of battery bots that have been scattered throughout a huge factory after another robot malfunctioned and caused chaos.
While it's not a particularly inspired story, that's not of much consequence. Get-A-Grip Chip is an experience that is focused entirely on gameplay rather than other elements and it certainly has a number of unique characteristics. Unlike many other platformers, the player cannot jump - in fact, Chip is defined by his inability to do anything, as the character is incapable of attacking, defending, or performing any special skills.
The one thing that Chip can do is attach to certain machinery with a hook that shoots directly out of his head. The hero can then swing around the stage, avoiding enemies and obstacles in a unique way that can feel quite counterintuitive at times. Not having a jump ability can be jarring but fortunately, the first few levels in Get-A-Grip Chip do a good job of introducing the basic mechanics of hook-shotting. After all, everything in this game involves swinging using the hook, whether it’s interacting with a switch or grapple around a trap, so it’s important to get to grips with it.
With the right thumbstick, users control the direction of the hook while the trigger shoots it. The aiming system is deceptively simple, as successfully navigating through each level can be a tricky endeavor. Dying dozens of times is likely, as Chip will be destroyed by even the slightest touch while avoiding enemies and hazards requires almost perfect timing. Swinging too soon or too late by just a tiny margin can often end in disaster. Although this could easily lead to frustration, Get-A-Grip Chip has a generous helping of checkpoints scattered in every level so players never lose too much progress. That keeps things feeling fair and tough, in a similar way to games like Super Meat Boy.
The title is made up of 30 levels spread across five distinct areas. Every time that a new area is unlocked, new enemies and obstacles are also introduced to keep things feeling fresh and challenging. But Get-A-Grip Chip never just throws these additions straight at the player all at once, instead slowly building up the difficulty through the stages in a satisfying way that creates a very natural progression.
Get-A-Grip Chip is also designed to be replayed. That’s largely due to the fact that it has leaderboards built entirely around how fast a level has been completed and stages that can be beaten in a matter of a few minutes. What that means is that it is easy to jump into the game and play it in short bursts, competing to try and get as high as possible. This adds some extra value to Get-A-Grip Chip and ensures that even when the main campaign is finished, there’s still reason to keep coming back.
For any fan of platformers, Get-A-Grip Chip offers a fresh approach to the genre that is engaging, fun, and very challenging. The excellent level design, great difficulty curve, and impressive presentation of cute visuals and pulsating soundtrack ensure that it stands out in a crowded market.
Get-A-Grip Chip is available on Nintendo Switch and PC. Screen Rant was provided with a digital Switch code for the purposes of this review.