Akira Meets Furi in Gripper, The Boss-battle Filled Cyber-Bike Action Game Coming in 2023
Today, developer Heart Core LTD is excited to announce that its story-driven cyber-bike action-game, Gripper, is coming soon to Windows PC and Nintendo Switch. Brought to life by a talented development team whose credits include Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Rainbow Six Siege, Gripper is a story-driven action game on wheels, featuring furious, dark synth tracks, emotionally charged storytelling, and an explosive cyberpunk setting that is sure to excite and delight.
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.
Watch the latest trailer for Gripper:
YouTube | Download
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.”
Awards For Gripper
“Gamescom Official Selection 2022”
“Epic MegaGrant Grand Prize Winner
“Epic MegaGrant Best Indie Game Winner”
“Best Art Winner & Best Game Nominee” — Unreal Engine Dev Contest 2021
“Grand Prize Winner” — DevGAMM Minsk
Key features of Gripper include:
- Grip it and Rip It: Tear enemies apart with your bike’s hook and finish them with their own weapons
- Have a Heart: Discover and rip out the hearts of colossal bosses to gain new abilities
- Apocalypse Acclamation: Explore post-apocalyptic cyberpunk biomes which will form a vast world to travel through
- Tunnel Vision: Ride through nightmarish tunnels to the beat of incredible tracks, staying alert for Quick Time Events and flying debris
- Better Yourself: Obtain upgrade points to gain access to improved health, shields and gadgets
- The Heart (Core) of It All: Immerse yourself in the story and metaphor surrounding each boss
To further prepare for your ride, be sure to follow Gripper on Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, and visit the official website.
About Heart Core LTD
Heart Core LTD is an indie studio built by cinema and game dev experts. Our founders are Oscar and Palme d’Or nominees. Our designers worked on Assassins Creed: Valhalla, Rainbow Six: Siege, and Atomic Heart. We are spread across the globe: Bulgaria, Ukraine, the UK, Uzbekistan, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Thailand… But one thing connects us every morning: we love classic video games and Heart Core stories.
