Rock Climbing? Review: Frustrating Fun?

Developed and Published by Bilge Kaan Rock Climbing? is a 2D Indie-Platformer where you must guide a pair of conjoined mountaineers up a stonkingly great big mountain. Using their unique heads to do so. One has a super bouncy head, and the other has a head that is sticky and can help you cling onto walls, rocks, and anything else you might come across. In this title, you will bounce, grab, spin, rotate, fall to the bottom, and start again as you attempt to reach the top.

I will admit that detailing all of this here and now will make this review of Rock Climbing? seem rather insane. But quite honestly that is what the game is about. It is a unique, mad-cap, and oftentimes incredibly frustrating game that can provide dizzying highs and nauseating lows depending on how well or not you do. And in honesty, you most likely will struggle with this one and find it maddening. But that is part of what I like about it. Confused? Well, that is where this review comes in.

Rock Climbing? Is available on Itch.io and on Steam for £1.69 or your regional equivalent.

Story – Write Way Up

All right, so let’s kick this review off by saying that Rock Climbing? doesn’t have a story. This isn’t a problem, and not for a title like this. It is just a nice slice of pick-up and-play fun. Or as fun as a title like this can get, but more on that in a moment. As per usual this is the case when I review a game where that is the case at KeenGamer I pivot to take a look at the UI and Tutorial Text. And, well, there isn’t any. Well, there is. You see, rather than having text to tell you what to do and how the controls work instead you have a diagram on the wall when you start playing. And this remains there throughout the game.

Rock Climbing?’s Tutorial text is really simple.

It is a simple feature. And it works well without having to worry about language barriers. Outside of this there are no other indicators of what the game keys are. There is no key-rebinding. And the diagram just tells you how to play. It doesn’t tell you which controls you use and can use. Granted it is easy to try and figure that out yourself. But knowing that I can use the space bar to jump rather than pressing down all the time would have been neat to know. Aside this the text within the game, both in-game and in the menus is very minimal. Though it is clear what each option indicates with the symbols used.

Gameplay – Rock On!

Okay dear reader, I think it is time we address title of this review for Rock Climbing?. To call this game “frustrating fun” might be seen as damning with faint praise. But the truth of the matter is that it is the best way that I can sum the game up overall. Rock Climbing? is a 2D platformer where you must guide your strange little conjoined duo of rock climbers to the top of a mountain. Using their heads to get you up there. One has a head that will make you bounce off rocks and the ground, and the other has a head that will stick to surfaces. Your job is to bounce and grab your way up. Twisting and turning as needed to get there. I’d hate to say it, but it is very similar to Getting Over It in broad concept but with a very different execution.

You need to quickly turn your duo of rock climbers around in time to do whatever you need at that given moment. Though I will admit that can be easier said than done but more on that in a moment. The core loop is easy to get a hold of. The game is controlled with a keyboard. However in the Steam release, it is possible to map a controller using the platform’s Big Picture mode. With you using either the arrow keys or WASD to select which direction to point towards and compress your character’s body like a spring to launch themself along. You can also hold down the space bar to jump too. The longer you hold down Space Bar/S/The down arrow the further you will go. Simple and easy to pick up stuff.

Oh Flip!

So, to go back to the whole “Frustrating Fun” thing, you see, Rock Climbing? is one of those titles where trial and error is the lifeblood of the game. And in this particular instance, it can be a hell of a trial and there is no room for error. If you misjudge a jump and start to fall you will keep falling until you either grab onto something, bounce off something, or land at the bottom. Due to this, there is this insane feeling of joy when you beat your record and get higher than you did before, but there can also be this crushing sense of disappointment when, due to turning the wrong way at the wrong moment you go flying back down to the base of the mountain.

Bang goes another run!

I will admit that when it comes to talking and reviewing games like Rock Climbing? this the remedy to many problems that I as a player find seems to boil down to “Get Good”. Though with that said, as clumsy as I can be with this game at times I do feel that the speed of the player character doesn’t help things either. The time taken to turn feels at times far too slow given how tight some of the spaces are. And how quick your reactions need to be. As such it feels like you need to pre-plan your jumps several steps in advance. In and of itself that isn’t bad. However it can be annoying when you are reaching areas you aren’t familiar with.

Coming Down the Mountain

What I will say is that the relatively short length of Rock Climbing? makes most falls more manageable. Oh sure, falling all the way down to the bottom is never fun. But given you can make it almost a quarter of the way there in only a couple minutes means that even if you do fail, it isn’t like you have made a total hash it. And in theory can regain your previous position in as much time if not sooner. The title has an addictive quality to it. And whilst the controls aren’t as tight as I would like. Turning speed is slow, and the number of places you can spring from at times feels needlessly limited. It is still great fun for the price.

A rare moment of calm.

A word of warning, however, there were parts of the game where I did start to feel motion sick. This very rarely happens to me when I play video games. So those who are sensitive to such things may need to sit this one out. Thankfully was only short-lived and passed quickly as I was able to just stop and continue. And the game will pick up wherever you left off if you decide to quit. But it is worth bearing that in mind it could be an issue for some. Granted there is a lack of “Safe” places to rest as you get higher up. But therein lays the challenge!

Graphics & Audio – Rock Off

The graphics and art style of Rock Climbing? has an almost minimalist and cartoonish look to it. It has a charm to it that isn’t overly cutesy, nor is it overly minimalist. And is functional as much as it is good looking. Everything that you need to know about the player character and the environment is clear and easy to read. It is all rather colourful and pleasant to look at. There was never a moment where I felt like I was unable to figure out where to go or plot out my next move. Though I will admit that the game’s camera being zoomed in as close as it is did hinder that. So whilst I still need to “Get Good” plotting my next moves is often difficult.

There are many elements that can aid or hinder you.

There isn’t really a soundtrack to Rock Climbing? The audio is limited to the sound effects from various gameplay elements and the ambient sound of birds and wildlife. This grants the game a more relaxing feel to it. Well, as relaxing as a game like this can ever be. Which quite honestly I am thankful for. Whilst music would have been welcome I fear that it may have worn out its welcome quite quickly as I started to repeat certain sections over and over again. The sound and visuals of the title are all in all decent for what is needed of them. And quite honestly I can’t say there was ever a moment when writing this review that I felt that Rock Climbing? needed anything more than what it had.

Rock Climbing? was reviewed on PC.