pikarceus (2012-05-19 16:43:35)

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"Mighty" doesn't even begin to describe it.

Every so often you will play a game that manages to do everything right, even if it doesn't look convincing at first. I had my doubts about Mighty Switch Force!, but after buying it and spending a few hours with it, I can say it is one of the best games on the Nintendo eshop.



Mighty Switch Force! has a pretty straightforward goal. You play as Patricia Wagon, a cyborg space cop. Each level, you have to round up all five of the Hooligan Sisters, who are escaped prisoners.

The controls are pretty simple. Y to shoot, B to jump, X to shift the camera, and A to "switch."
Switching is what makes the game interesting. Throughout the level, you will encounter blocks. They may be in the foreground or the background. Switching will make them move from the background to foreground or the other way around. If you see a gap you can't jump, but a block in the background, jump than Switch the block to the foreground. Simple. But as you progress through the game, you will encounter different block types, such as blocks that launch you forward, and Mighty Switch Force! will produce some truly devious puzzles. Of course, you will also encounter enemies. Just shoot them. A few enemies are a bit more tricky though, and are even tied in with certain puzzles. Getting through these switching areas often allows you to find a Hooligan Sister. They don't fight you at all, they just wait to be plucked up. The game retains a challenge, you can only take three hits before dying, but lessens it a bit with the ability to pick up health. You shouldn't struggle too much with the game, you're more likely to be stumped a certain pattern of blocks in your way than getting killed by an enemy.



I found Mighty Switch Force! to be a pleasant game to play, but I was completely blown away by the graphics. Wayforward was ability to get a good amount out of the DSi, and with the 3DS they really cut loose. The detail on the sprites for a downloadable title is insane, they not just look nice but have wonderful animations as well. Wayforward also did an amazing job with the 3D. It fits in perfectly with the game's switching mechanic, I found the game much easier when I had the 3D on. It also has areas where there is no depth, with backdrops behind those areas that do have depth. There are also nice pop effects, fragments of rock and exploding enemies appear to come out of the screen. When Patricia dies too, you get some really excellent 3D.
If the backdrops were animated, Mighty Switch Force! could be considered a retail 3DS game graphics wise.



I found the sound too be top quality as well. The techno music really matches the fast paced gameplay and will empower the player. Patricia will also occasionally shouts little blurbs suck as "Justice served!"
You won't want to turn the volume down on this one.

The only flaw I could find in Mighty Switch Force! is the content. You have 16, for the most part, short levels. I suppose this isn't too bad, only skilled gamers will beat this in one sitting and there is some replayability in the form of speed runs. Also, Wayforward is rectifying this. A free update will add five more levels and a retry button. The update is now available. Even with the update, Mighty Switch Force! isn't oozing content, but it should be enough to satisfy you,



Mighty Switch Force! is an excellent platformer, it combines top quality graphics and sound with solid gameplay that effectively utilizes the stereoscopic 3D. The amount of content may not be bulging, but that hardly matters when the rest of the game is near perfection.

Overall: 9/10

This post has been edited one or more times, the last time was:
2012-07-19 22:52:39

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BioMan8 (2012-05-19 19:07:24)

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-b

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Ron1212 (2012-05-20 20:06:51)

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Cool. Might get this.

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ultraguy4 (2012-06-06 05:36:10)

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I'd like to say this game is NOT for those with a lack of patience. You have to have pretty quick reflexes, or you're end up a cyborg-kebab. The (spoiler slert) auto-switch levels almost made me crush my system in a deathgrip. Although, I do like seeing our lovely hero in a bikini. (Wolf whistle)

This post has been edited one or more times, the last time was:
2012-07-17 00:03:19

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ultraguy4 (2012-07-16 23:59:50)

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I'm a bit surprised they didn't reference Shantae or any of the other Mighty games. A bit of a missed opportunity, if you ask me. You know, seeing as how they've broken the 4th wall more than a few times.

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Superman (2012-07-21 17:27:24)

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This game is amazing and the 3D is good, but I think you over exaggerated the sprite detail. The sprite detail is O.K.

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pikarceus (2012-07-23 20:17:25)

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For a downloadable game they are. Look at the detail in the level layout and backgrounds, beautiful.

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Superman (2012-07-24 20:32:37)

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I liked Sakura Samurai and LoZ Wind waker graphics in the games I play. That's why I like Team Fortress 2 so much

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