{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/movement-platforming--t007","type":"mechanic","id":"movement-platforming--t007","lang":"en","title":"Grappling hooks, ropes and swinging","summary":"The player connects to a world anchor, changes length or tension and uses release timing to carry motion onward.","updatedAt":"2026-10-22","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/movement-platforming--t007/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/movement-platforming--t007.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/movement-platforming--t007.md","aliases":["Grapples, ropes and swinging"],"tags":["Movement and platforming","Mechanics and variants"],"sourceIds":["source-b8626268f7974a44","source-ad5935e19b434514","source-8b181715b5c89953","source-144875b581c260bf"],"sources":[{"id":"source-b8626268f7974a44","title":"Godot: 2D movement overview","url":"https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/tutorials/2d/2d_movement.html","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-ad5935e19b434514","title":"Maddy Thorson: Celeste & TowerFall Physics","url":"https://www.mattmakesgames.com/articles/celeste_and_towerfall_physics/index.html","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-8b181715b5c89953","title":"Godot: CharacterBody3D","url":"https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/classes/class_characterbody3d.html","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-144875b581c260bf","title":"Uncharted: The Lost Legacy (2017)","url":"https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/wall-running-on-ropes","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"The player connects to a world anchor, changes length or tension and uses release timing to carry motion onward."},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### Mechanic variants\n\n<a id=\"t007-variants\"></a>\n\n- Anchor selection: range, visibility and surface type restrict attachment. <a id=\"t007-v1\"></a>\n- Pendulum motion: a taut link limits distance and turns falling into an arc. <a id=\"t007-v2\"></a>\n- Reeling in: shortening the link changes height, speed or anchor distance. <a id=\"t007-v3\"></a>\n- Release: detachment preserves the chosen tangential-velocity model. <a id=\"t007-v4\"></a>"},{"id":"example","title":"Design example","body":"Above a chasm, the player chooses a high anchor for distance or a low one to enter a narrow opening.\n\nPrototype check: Test releases before, at and after the bottom of the arc; launch directions should be distinct and reproducible."},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"Movement connects input, trajectory and accessible space. Players assess support, speed and remaining abilities, choose an action and correct their motion through feedback. These ten directions range from flat platforming to underwater movement. A first prototype needs only a few surfaces and one distinctive rule; the camera, collisions and return of control should explain success or failure. Godot documentation provides implementation examples, while the Celeste and TowerFall author describes one approach to movement and platforms; these choices are not mandatory in every engine."}],"relations":[],"placements":[{"catalogId":"movement-platforming","id":"t007","title":"Movement and platforming","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/movement-platforming/#t007","categoryIds":["mechanics"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-22","title":"Grapples, ropes and swinging","description":"The player connects to a world anchor, changes length or tension and uses release timing to carry motion onward.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/traversal-wall-running-on-ropes.webp","width":498,"height":278,"game":"Uncharted: The Lost Legacy (2017)","sourceUrl":"https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/wall-running-on-ropes","originalUrl":"https://cdn.gamemechanics.org/webm/uncharted_tll_rope_run.webm","sourceFrameSeconds":1.68,"credit":"Naughty Dog; clip via GameMechanics.org","rights":"© respective game rights holders. Clip source: GameMechanics.org. All rights reserved.","caption":"The heroine traverses a wall on an anchored rope","alt":"The heroine traverses a wall on an anchored rope","markers":[{"x":41,"y":62,"label":"The heroine moves while supported by the rope"}]},"tips":["Make the anchor and safe release moment readable."],"examples":[{"title":"Uncharted: The Lost Legacy (2017)","url":"https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/wall-running-on-ropes"}]}},"endsAt":null,"provenance":"Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on 2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests. Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not every proposed variant.","license":"CC-BY-4.0","codeLicense":"MIT","attribution":"gamemechanics.pro contributors","catalogKey":"catalog/movement-platforming"}}