--- 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 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 --- # Grappling hooks, ropes and swinging id: movement-platforming--t007 type: mechanic key: mechanic/movement-platforming--t007 lang: en status: active url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/movement-platforming--t007/ The player connects to a world anchor, changes length or tension and uses release timing to carry motion onward. ## At a glance ![The heroine traverses a wall on an anchored rope](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/traversal-wall-running-on-ropes.webp) [Uncharted: The Lost Legacy (2017)](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/wall-running-on-ropes) · © respective game rights holders. Clip source: GameMechanics.org. All rights reserved. [Source recording](https://cdn.gamemechanics.org/webm/uncharted_tll_rope_run.webm), 1.68 s 1. The heroine moves while supported by the rope - Make the anchor and safe release moment readable. - [Uncharted: The Lost Legacy (2017)](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/wall-running-on-ropes) ## How it works The player connects to a world anchor, changes length or tension and uses release timing to carry motion onward. ## Variants ### Mechanic variants - Anchor selection: range, visibility and surface type restrict attachment. - Pendulum motion: a taut link limits distance and turns falling into an arc. - Reeling in: shortening the link changes height, speed or anchor distance. - Release: detachment preserves the chosen tangential-velocity model. ## Design example Above a chasm, the player chooses a high anchor for distance or a low one to enter a narrow opening. Prototype check: Test releases before, at and after the bottom of the arc; launch directions should be distinct and reproducible. ## Context and limits 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. ## Connected materials ## Sources and 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. - [Godot: 2D movement overview](https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/tutorials/2d/2d_movement.html) (id: source-b8626268f7974a44) - [Maddy Thorson: Celeste & TowerFall Physics](https://www.mattmakesgames.com/articles/celeste_and_towerfall_physics/index.html) (id: source-ad5935e19b434514) - [Godot: CharacterBody3D](https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/classes/class_characterbody3d.html) (id: source-8b181715b5c89953) - [Uncharted: The Lost Legacy (2017)](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/wall-running-on-ropes) (id: source-144875b581c260bf) CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors