Grappling Hook Games

"Batman: Arkham Asylum"

• In "Batman: Arkham Asylum," players take control of the Dark Knight himself in order to prevent his deadliest enemies from escaping Arkham Asylum. As Batman, players have at their disposal all of the gadgets that fans of the comic associate with the Caped Crusader. Using Batman's grappling gun, players can climb to the tops of buildings, swing away from henchmen and disarm combatants from across the room. Internet Gaming News called "Arkham Asylum" the greatest comic book-inspired game of all time, giving the game a score of 9.3 out of 10.

"Just Cause 2"

• As special agent Rico Rodriguez, players travel to the island nation of Panau to help overthrow a ruthless dictator in "Just Cause 2." The game allows players to fully explore the island of Panau, which features various terrains from a city full of skyscrapers to dense jungles and deserts. Rodriguez attempts to overthrow the government through a series of guerrilla attacks that require players to blow up buildings, hijack helicopters and base jump from tall buildings. Players use Rodriguez's grappling hook to latch onto moving vehicles and swing between rooftops. Gamespot.com favorably reviewed "Just Cause 2," scoring the game an 8 out of 10.

"Bionic Commando"

• "Bionic Commando," based on the popular 1987 arcade game, introduces Nathan Spencer to a new generation of gamers. Updated from the original game's side-scrolling two-dimensional world, "Bionic Commando" allows players to explore a three-dimensional world full of tall buildings and death defying drops. Using Spencer's robotic arm, players can grapple between buildings while swinging over an irradiated city. The robotic arm also allows players to grab objects to hurl at enemies and to swing out of the way during combat. Joystiq.com describes the early stages of the game as somewhat tedious, but says that the second half of "Bionic Commando" more than makes up for the early learning curve.

"Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light"

• "Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light," an arcade game available for download through Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network, is another adventure following the exploits of Lara Croft from the "Tomb Raider" series. A two-player cooperative game, "Guardian of Light" requires players to work together as Lara and the Guardian attempt to thwart an ancient evil from conquering the world. Using Lara's grappling hook and the Guardian's spears, players must solve a series of puzzles and environmental challenges to advance through different levels. Game Informer magazine gave "Guardian of Light" an enthusiastic review and scored the game a 9 out of 10.