• Review: Mighty Switch Force!

    by
    Jason Arriola
    Published on 01-31-2012 05:33 AM
    1 Comment Comments


    Mighty Switch Force!

    Developer: WayForward Technologies
    Publisher: WayForward Technologies
    Platform: Nintendo 3DS
    Genre: Puzzle/Platformer
    Rating: Everyone
    Release Date: December 22nd, 2011

    The talented developers at WayForward have outdone themselves yet again. With outstanding downloadable games such as Shantae: Risky’s Revenge, Mighty Flip Champs, and Mighty Milky Way, WayForward presents their next addition to the Mighty series with Mighty Switch Force! A combination of platforming and puzzle solving that truly tests the skills of anyone who plays the game.

    Presentation
    Players take on the role of Officer Patricia Wagon. Officer Wagon is a cybernetic enhanced police officer who uses her gifts to keep evil doers at bay. Armed with her trusty laser blaster and her amazing Siren Helmet, there’s no escaping Officer Wagon when she’s on the job. Lately there’s been a bunch of no good, dirty rotten scoundrels on the loose and they call themselves the “Hooligan Sisters.” The Hooligan Sisters are found throughout each stage in the game, and it’s up to Officer Wagon and Corporal Gendarmor, a mobile mech unit that transports Patricia away from each of her missions, to find the sisters, and toss them right back in jail before they can continue wreaking havoc across the city. Only you can help Patricia ensure that justice prevails.

    Graphics
    Mighty Switch Force marks the first game developed and published by WayForward that takes advantage of the 3DS’s 3D feature. For WayForward’s first effort into the new format, yet again they introduce a clever and polished looking game that’s easy on the eyes. Previous games from the developers have given us original and memorable female leads, and Officer Patricia Wagon keeps that tradition going. The environments that Patricia explores are also a dazzle to behold on your 3DS. Shapes and colors in the foreground and background bring the game to life, more so given that particular objects, such as blocks, can move between the background and foreground with the 3D feature enabled. If you’re one who’s not too into the whole 3D thing, Mighty Switch Force won’t worry you with eye strain. You can always disable the feature, but it looks just as neat with the feature enabled even at its lowest setting.

    Sound/Music
    You really do have to hand it to WayForward. Their games deliver very well in each area that makes a video game a real good one. One such area of talent is in sound and music. Patricia comes with her own set of vocals that personify the futuristic cop she is. “Gotcha!”, “Let’s go!”, “Justice served!”, “Switch it up!” is just some of Patricia’s exclamations that are peppered throughout the game.

    Where Mighty Switch Force really shines though is in its music. There’s no doubt that games that have come before Mighty Switch Force have chimed out some great original music. The music heard throughout the game is by far the best in the “Mighty” series of games. You’re not doing the game’s soundtrack justice if you’re not playing the game while using a pair of headphones. It really does improve the experience all the more better and is something I would highly recommend doing when playing the game.

    Gameplay
    If you’ve played neither Mighty Flip Champs nor Mighty Milky Way, you might see how Mighty Switch Force could be taken for an action, platforming game by watching footage of it. In fact the game, like the games aforementioned, is a combination of platforming but a primary focus on puzzle solving.

    Mighty Switch Force features a total of 16 playable stages in which the player must track down the escaped criminals, the “Hooligan Sisters” and lock them right up again in jail. Patricia is dispatched to the area of their whereabouts and must face a series of challenging puzzles to locate each sister and catch them in as little time as possible. For each stage a “Par” time is displayed, in other words, you can compete against yourself for the best time possible to beat what the CPU is demanding from you. Though, unless you’ve seen someone else play the game, going into the game for the first time will have you taking your time to solve puzzles and get yourself acclimated with the controls.

    The gist of the game, including its controls, are simple to understand from the get go. Patricia’s Siren Helmet functions as the game’s ability to let you “switch” blocks from the foreground and background interchangeably, hence Mighty Switch Force. You can distinguish between blocks easily as they will have a particular appearance when the 3D feature is enabled. Passive blocks appear faded as they lie low in the background, but active, solid blocks will appear to be popping out of the screen. Blocks can either be hindrances or tools to aid you in completing a mission. For example, a solid wall of blocks can appear before you, blocking your path, but “switching” using Patricia’s Siren Helmet will instantly make the blocks fade into the background to allow for passage. As simple as the idea seems, soon enough you’ll be presented with some very clever puzzles that will test not only your depth perception but also you’re platforming, twitch reflexes, and timing. Often all these abilities will be tested all at once! Succeeding only adds to the satisfaction that you’re getting through the stage as best you can, and it looks impressive when you have it down pat.

    Each Hooligan Sister can be tracked by using the lower screen of the 3DS. The lower screen acts as a radar of sorts, but is also known as the “Hooligan Tracker.” The tracker will always emphasize the location of the nearest sister in your proximity. The concept is easy to use and goes a long way to shave seconds off the clock if time trials are your kind of thing. When all five Hooligan Sisters are recovered Corporal Gendarmor will show up on the stage to pick up Patricia and finish the stage. He basically acts as the finish line for each stage. Again you can use the Hooligan Tracker to figure out where Corporal Gendarmor has landed in the stage, and once you make contact, the timer stops.

    Along the way you may occasionally make mistakes, but who doesn’t? That’s why there’s a few checkpoints positioned around each stage and they are marked by the “Ugly Checkpoint Dog”, awww, yeah that’s what he’s apparently referred to. So if you see the pup hanging around the stage, passing by will automatically trigger your checkpoint and bring you back to that area if you make a mistake. It’s not just puzzles you’ll be solving, as there are a variety of baddies trying to slow your progress, or even stage hazards can slow you down, but getting trapped in a block by accidentally switching at the wrong time is the worst thing you can do.

    Lasting Appeal
    With 16 stages total you can zip through Mighty Switch Force in less than an hour, even faster if you’re good at speed runs or time trials. That’s where the game’s replay value lies. Shortcuts exist in each stage and all are waiting to be found out and used to your advantage. The Par times for each stage can be intimidating at first, even near impossible before you absolutely start understanding how the game is played. Part of the fun is trying to break the game’s record, and even your own once you manage to beat the clock. Though once you’ve accomplished these demanding tasks, there’s not much more to do in the game. It’s a shame because with a new handheld peripheral as the 3DS, and its capabilities, it would have been great to see Mighty Switch Force take advantage of these capabilities such as including an online leader board, or some kind of clever idea with the 3DS’s StreetPass or SpotPass features. In any case, that’s something to consider for the future for this great line of games.

    **As of May 24, 2012, Mighty Switch Force has released an update. Now five new levels have been added to the exisiting game. Additionally, there is a new stereoscopic 3D display that augments the graphics better than before. The game has also included a "retry" option directly in the pause menu, which was unavailable before. Not bad. The only thing is you have to download the full game all over again instead of a patch. Still, that's pretty cool. Your time with Officer Patricia Wagon is not over yet!

    Conclusion
    Although Mighty Switch Force can be zipped through in about an hour, don’t let that discourage you. This is one great game to play if you own a 3DS. Anyone who enjoys a good time trial challenge in video games has a great reason to play the game. The complete package that WayForward put together to make Mighty Switch Force is a highly distinguished one, and they’re quite talented for what they bring to the video game industry because of it. The price tag for the game isn’t bad either. I really enjoyed going back to beat the game’s time and even so when I returned to beat my own record time to set a new one. Mighty Switch Force is one of the best games designed for the 3DS’s 3D feature and I highly recommend logging into the Nintendo E Shop to give the game a download!

    Score:
    9.0/10


    Comments 1 Comment
    1. Gusto's Avatar
      Gusto - 02-02-2012
      I so want this game, I love WayForward <3

  • Review Scale

    Score 10- Flawless Victory: A score not handed out to every game. Games earning this rare score sit at the very pinnacle of excellence. These games act as the examples for which all others should be measured with. They are instant classics from the beginning. These games not only deliver what was expected of it, but also exceed the player’s expectations. The game’s features are innovative and original. No game is without its absolute flaws, but the finished product you bring home surpasses the anticipation the game has formed. A day one buy is a must. The game you hold in your hands with this score is a video game jackpot.

    Score 9 - 9.5- Outstanding: Games earning scores such as these absolutely must be played. Games that achieve this high ranking do so because they define the genres that they are in. Flaws are few and barely noticeable. Features seen in the game have been renovated to provide something new and fresh. The story, gameplay, graphics, and lasting appeal are all fantastic and is reason enough to bring the game home and to enjoy with family and friends. Every penny you spend on the game is so worth it.

    Score 8 - 8.5- Great: Any flaw the game may possess is overshadowed by its fun factor. These games would be great for gamers to play. These great games appeal to gamers more and more outside its normal player base because of what it brings to the table.

    Score 7 - 7.5- Good: Flaws do exist in these games, but the positive features of the game can counterbalance the flaws. Additionally, players who are predisposed to liking a game of a particular series or genre with this score should enjoy the game. These are in no way bad games, and much fun can be had with them. An overall good game is worth taking a look at, whether you are willing to buy the game or rent it first. That or you can also wait for the game to reach a good price.

    Score 6 - 6.5- Decent: Games falling into this category may suffer from numerous flaws (for example, graphics or gameplay), but are still worth playing. Granted, the player should be aware that a game with these scores may not guarantee them full satisfaction.

    Score 5 - 5.5- Average: An average game is one in which a game’s features are neither good nor completely terrible. Instead, the finished product is manageable. Little has been done to hold the player’s interest. If anything, rent this game before you consider buying it so that you can at least get a feel for the game’s overall experience.

    Score 4 - 4.5- Poor: Games falling into this category may only keep gamers entertained for a short while. While the game may seem enjoyable for moments at a time, it can quickly grow old and may never be revisited again. The game’s overall function is lacking in quality and may not hold the player’s attention for long. The game leaves little or nothing else to return back to.

    Score 3 - 3.5- Bad: If any positive qualities about a game in this category exist, it is not enough to redeem the game for its shortcomings. Sure you may find yourself playing it, but for how long? You will wind up not giving the game a second glance.

    Score 2 - 2.5- Horrible: Games such as these may not be totally unplayable, they nearly are. Additionally, they may lack, or greatly suffer in, the fundamental functionality of the software as a whole. The game simply does not come close to meeting industry standards at the time of its release.

    Score 1 - 1.5- Appalling: Gamers should avoid this game at all costs. The game was clearly not ready to make its way to store shelves in its status. Save your money and find something else. See it in the bargain bin? No! Stay away! Keep moving and look for something else.

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