Mighty Switch Force!

Mighty Switch Force!
Developer(s)	WayForward Technologies
Publisher(s)	WayForward Technologies JP: Intergrow
Director(s)	Matt Bozon Austin Ivansmith (Hyper Drive Edition)
Designer(s)	Matt Bozon Michael Herbster Austin Ivansmith (Hyper Drive Edition)
Programmer(s)	Larry Holdaway
Artist(s)	Henk Nieborg
Composer(s)	Jake Kaufman
Series	Mighty
Engine	EngineBlack
Platform(s)	Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)	Nintendo 3DS WW: December 22, 2011 JP: November 13, 2013[1] Wii U NA: November 18, 2012[2] EU: December 6, 2012 AUS: June 6, 2013 JP: September 10, 2014 Microsoft Windows WW: June 25, 2015
Genre(s)	Action, puzzle, platformer
Mode(s)	Single-player

Mighty Switch Force! is a puzzle platformer developed by WayForward Technologies for Nintendo 3DS. It is the third game in WayForward's Mighty series, following Mighty Milky Way and Mighty Flip Champs!. The game was released on the Nintendo eShop on December 22, 2011.^[3] An update to the game, including five new levels, was released on May 24, 2012.^[4] A high-definition version, Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition, was released for the Wii U in 2012, featuring re-drawn graphics and other new features.^[5] A Steam version of the game was also released in June 2015.^[6] A sequel, Mighty Switch Force! 2, was released in June 2013.^[7]

Gameplay

The player controls a cyborg police officer named Patricia Wagon (voiced by Stephanie Komure), who has to round up a group of escaped female convicts. The goal of each level is to find all the escaped convicts and return to the exit point as quickly as possible, with each level possessing a Par Time that dedicated speed runners can try and beat. Along with the ability to jump and shoot, Patricia has the ability to push in and out blocks dotted around the stage, using them as platforms or a means to destroy certain enemies. There are also various other types of blocks such as launcher blocks that send Patricia or an enemy in a certain direction and colored blocks that allow the player to change which plane they switch on. During each level, the player has three hearts, with the player losing one heart if Patricia is hurt by an enemy, comes into contact with spikes or is pushed into the screen by a block change (checkpoints allow Patricia to respawn at that point in the case of the latter two). If Patricia loses all three hearts, she will have to start the level over, although collecting items found around the level or by shooting enemies can recover lost hearts.

Development

The game was released for the Nintendo eShop on December 22, 2011. A free update to the game was released on May 24, 2012, featuring five new levels, improved 3D effect and the option to restart the level.^[4] On July 3, 2012, WayForward announced development of Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition as a downloadable title for the Wii U. The game features redrawn graphics similar in style to A Boy and His Blob, and also features off-screen game play with the Wii U GamePad, as well as the downloadable content from the Nintendo 3DS update.^[5] New to this version of the game is also the inclusion of Hyper Mode levels, which remaster all previous levels making them even harder. The game was released in conjunction with Wii U's American launch November 18, 2012. In Europe, the game was released December 6, 2012.

Legacy

A sequel, Mighty Switch Force! 2, which has a focus on firefighting, was released for Nintendo 3DS in June 2013.^[8][9] A third game, Mighty Switch Force! Academy, is currently in development for PC and features multiplayer elements.^[10]

Reception

IGN gave the game a score of 8.0, praising its gameplay and presentation but criticising its short length.^[14] Nintendo Enthusiast also gave the game a score of 8 out of 10, concluding that the game might be best suited for platforming fans.^[15]

References

External links

• Official site for Mighty Switch Force!
• Official site for Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition