In Gripper, players enter the burnout seat as None, a cyber biker who is stuck inside a collapsing world. Long-separated from his parents, None is jolted back into their lives and forced to save the world from the AI known as Zero. To do so he must race through post-apocalyptic landscapes connected by treacherous tunnels, explore dead lands with the help of his mechanized cat buddy Cat-Kit, and ultimately defeat relentless bosses by gripping and ripping out their hearts.
“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,” said Heart Core LTD 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.”
Gripper’s core gameplay loop consists of three phases: the Main Hub, Tunnels, and Boss Fights. The Main Hub is where players go to upgrade and customize their bikes, install consumables for the upcoming battle, and perhaps most importantly, talk to the adorably intense companion, Cat-Kit. Tunnels feature riding and sliding action set to catchy synthetic beats inspired by the work of Carpenter Brut. Lastly, the Boss Fights feature colossal enemy mechs that symbolize the different stages of grief and each one has a different weak spot that requires a unique approach to survive. By learning the best strategies for each part of the game, players can help set the world right, defeat the great evil of Zero, and even have a chance at saving their parents.
While Gripper is a bombastic bike-based action game, it also features an heartfelt narrative of love, loss, and working through immense grief.
“The idea was born when I lost my mother, and as a game designer, I wanted to express my feelings through gameplay,” said Zolovkin. “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.”
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