TF2's Mannpower Mode Beta Adds Grappling Hooks!

In a new beta release as part of Team Fortress 2's Smissmas update, the game is getting grappling hooks! And as is well established, grappling hooks make any game's score go up by 10%. On a site that doesn't give scores, that makes TF2 now infinity/100.

Mannpower Mode is a beta addition to the game, using placeholder art and lots of experimental features. And grappling hooks. It adds a Capture The Flag-like mode, they say, with grappling hooks and "nine different types of powerups." The in-flux mode can currently be played in maps Ctf_foundry and Ctf_gorge.

I need to be honest - I haven't played TF2 in a good long while. It's changed a great deal since my days of rushing about as a Heavy or Scout, sort of not helping my team very much. So when I read that this grappling-hook adding new addition disables "random critical hits", I've no idea what that means. And you won't be able to capture your enemies' flag unless yours is in your own base, apparently.

Have I mentioned they're adding a grappling hook? All classes will get it, and it's used to propel yourself around the game, rather than as a weapon against others. It should, they say, work on any surface.

The power-ups included, the Mannpowers, (alongside a grappling hook) so far are:

"Strength: Double damage for all weapons. Distance damage fall-off immunity.
Resistance: Reduces incoming damage by 50%. Immune to critical hit damage multiplier.
Vampire: All damage dealt is returned as health. 25% damage resistance. Max health increased by 40%.
Warlock: 50% of damage received is reflected back to the attacker (reflected damage cannot directly cause death). Max health increased by 50%.
Haste: Double weapon firing and reload rate. Double clip size and max ammo count. Movement speed increased by 30%.
Regeneration: Ammo, health and metal regenerate. Rate of health regeneration inversely proportional to max health.
Precision: Greatly reduced bullet spread. Distance damage falloff immunity. Rocket and grenade travel speed increased 250%.
Agility: Movement speed increased by 50%. Grapple speed increase. Jump height increased by 80%. Instant weapon switch.
Critical Hit: temporary full crit power for 30 seconds. Respawns in the same place after 60 seconds."

Anyone can use any of them, by picking them up from their floating about the floor, but only one at a time. They can be dropped at will to swap for another, and in other news, the mode adds grappling hooks.

To get at the new mode, which also adds grappling hooks to the game, you need to click "Play Multiplayer", then "Play Beta Maps", and pick "Mannpower mode".

Smissmas has a lot more going on. Play during the season and you'll get a bunch of new weapons, a gift called Stuffed Stockings, new items, Naughty and Nice winter crates (that are good until Feb 16th), and the usual pile of tweaks.

Grappling hooks.