Switchblade II explained

Switchblade II
Developer:Gremlin Graphics
Core Design (ST)
Optimus Software (Lynx)[1]
Programmer:George Allan
Artist:Paul Gregory
Composer:Barry Leitch
Series:Switchblade
Platforms:Amiga, Atari Lynx, Atari ST, BlackBerry
Genre:Action-platform, run and gun
Modes:Single-player

Switchblade II is a 1991 side-scrolling action-platform run and gun video game originally developed and published by Gremlin Graphics in Europe for the Amiga home computers. It is the sequel to the original Switchblade, which was solely created by Simon Phipps at Core Design and released earlier in 1989 across multiple platforms.[2] Despite being primarily developed in the UK, its graphics had a distinctly Japanese style similar to anime or manga.

Taking place several centuries after the events of the first game, the story follows a descendant of the original protagonist named Hiro, as he embarks on a journey to defeat Havok, the original main antagonist who has returned from his previous defeat in order to bring chaos upon the land of Cyberworld and its inhabitants after the Blade Knights ceased to exist. Its gameplay consists of run and gun action mixed with platforming and exploration elements, with a main single-button configuration. Originally released for the Amiga microcomputers, Switchblade II was later ported to the Atari ST in May 1991 and the Atari Lynx handheld in 1992, with the latter being published by Atari Corporation in North America and Europe.

Upon its original release on the Amiga, Switchblade II garnered very positive reception from critics who praised multiple aspects of the title such as the visuals, sound effects and gameplay. The Atari ST version also received positive reception from reviewers for its graphics and gameplay, while the Lynx version was met with a more mixed reception. Despite the positive reviews, programmer George Allan was criticized for the lack of enemies and as a result of this, Allan wanted to make a significantly faster title, which would eventually become the popular Zool.[3] [4]

Gameplay

Switchblade II is a side-scrolling action-platform game with run and gun elements similar to the original Switchblade where the player takes control of Hiro through six stages of varying thematic set in the land of Thraxx at Cyberworld infested with mechanoid, metal-clad enemies where the main objective is to fully destroy the returning Havok once and for all.[5] [6] [7] All of the actions in the game are performed differently depending on the version, with one button and a joystick in the home computer versions, while the d-pad and two buttons are used in the Lynx port.[6] [7] The progression structure between levels is also different between each version, with the Amiga and Atari ST versions transitioning seamlessly, while the Lynx port is broken into several sections instead. Spread across the levels are portals that lead into a shop where items and weapons can be bought including a knife, homing missiles, laser beam, flamethrower and shurikens, in addition to ammunition for each of them.[7] These items are bought with orbs left by enemies after destroying them. In some stages, levels are interconnected with a network of subterranean bases, where unexplored areas of the screen are obscured from view until the player's character enters them as with the first game.

Plot

The plot summary of Switchblade II varies between each version. In the original Amiga and Atari ST versions, the game is set several centuries after the last of the Blade Knights, Hiro, defeated the evil Havok and saved the land of Cyberworld from his influence. Under the leadership of Hiro, peace returned with the resurfacing of the knights acting as protectors, who enjoyed both respect and devotion from the inhabitants but their outlook on the knights changed negatively as time progressed, as they were starting to regard them as foolish and needless policemen who wasted valuable resources, before their number decreased and eventually disappeared once again. After this event, darkness returned and brought chaos to the land that signalized the return of Havok, who was not fully destroyed by the original Hiro and waited for the Blade Knights' second demise for his comeback to take over Cyberworld and its people, who were deciding between submitting to the leadership of Havok or die before doing so. Taetomi, the eldest person during the dispute, considered the Blade Knights' second demise as a massive mistake from their part and the many elements they took for granted also vanished as well, however he also mentioned the existence of a descendant from the former Blade Knights leader's lineage named Hiro, who has been taught with the way of the knights and knows the full risk in attempting to defeat Havok again without the now-decimated Switchblade with nothing but the knights' ancient weapons.[5]

In the Atari Lynx version, it is implied that the original Hiro from the first game is the main protagonist, as he was granted immortality after defeating Havok 200 years ago, who survived the confrontation and vowed to return one day, with Hiro preparing himself once again in defeating him completely.[6]

Development

Switchblade II first began its development process on the Amiga in August 1990 and it was solely written by programmer George Allan over the course of six to eight months, who previously worked on Venus The Flytrap alongside artist Paul Gregory at Gremlin Graphics.[4] [8] [9] Both Allan and Gregory had free rein on the project and were influenced by various arcade games such as Midnight Resistance, Shinobi and Strider, as well as the first Switchblade in order to give the project a "home console" feel.[4] [8] [9] [10] In a February 1991 issue of The One, Allan said that "the idea behind the new game was to give it more of a coin-op feel, so the gameplay is a lot faster".[11]

Allan said that they planned on using the system's EHB Mode early in development for backgrounds and sprites, while the project as a whole bears resemblance to Japanese-developed titles from the era due to Gregory's fascination with the art style.[4] [10] The game runs at 50 frames per second and its maps were created as 16x16 pixel tiles.[4] [8] Several gameplay elements and ideas, however, were scrapped due to memory and time constrains.[9] Original Switchblade author Simon Phipps had no direct involvement in the development of the game, although Allan has claimed to have briefly met with Phipps in a 2012 interview with the website Amiga Lore.[2] [4] [10]

Release

Swtichblade II was first released on the Amiga on Europe in 1991 and while it was the lead format for the second Switchblade game, it was not widely ported to the other platforms unlike the first.[12] The game was later ported to the Atari ST in May 1991 by the same team with Alex Davies assisting in the porting process at Core Design, featuring less colors than the original version.[4] [10] [13] It was also ported to the Atari Lynx by Optimus Software and released on North America and Europe by Atari Corporation in 1992, although the former are not credited as such in-game and this version was first showcased to the attendees at SCES '92 before being published late on the same year.[1] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

A conversion for the Famicom was being developed by Kemco and planned for a 1993 release, but was never released for unknown reasons.[21] [22] Between 2016 and 2017, former programmer Christian Harvey recounted about the development process of the conversion for the system at Unseen64, stating that the port was completed under a whole year and based upon the original Amiga version.[23] Harvey also said that the reason for its cancellation was due to an internal conflict with Gremlin.[23]

Reception

Reception
PublicationScores
AmigaAtari STLynx
ACE900 / 1000[24]
Aktueller Software Markt10 / 12[25]
AllGame[26]
Amiga Action90%[27]
82%[28]
Amiga Computing90%[29]
Amiga Format70%[30]
79%[31]
Amiga Games79%[32]
Amiga Joker68%[33]
Amiga Mania90%[34]
Amiga Power87%
[35]
Atari ST User90%[36]
CU Amiga90%
GamePro15.5 / 20[37]
Game Zero Magazine79.5 / 100[38]
Génération 490%[39] 90%
IGN5.0 / 10[40]
Joypad85%[41]
Joystick91%[42] 88%[43] 85%[44]
Megablast64%[45]
The One90%
70%[46]
Play Time65%[47]
47%[48]
Player One70%[49]
Power Play74%[50] 63%[51]
Raze91%[52]
ST Format81%[53]
88%[54]
Tilt17 / 20[55] 16 / 20[56]
Video Games64%[57]
Zero85 / 100[58] 93 / 100[59]

Switchblade II received mostly positive reception since its release on the Amiga.[60]

The One gave the Amiga version of Switchblade II an overall score of 90%, comparing it to Strider from Capcom. The One notes Switchblade II as an improvement over its predecessor, expressing that "the main sprites are larger, the levels are bigger" and praising the addition of new weapons. Competition against Switchblade II at the time of the release include the similarly critically acclaimed Gods and the less-so Turrican II, and The One expresses that Switchblade II stands out from similar titles due to its "individual merits".[13]

Legacy

Although Switchblade II received mostly positive reception in all platforms, one of the main criticisms directed towards George Allan was its slow pacing and the lack of enemies in the playfield and as such, Allan pursued in creating a significantly faster title than his previous work, which would eventually lead to the conception of the original Zool.[3] [4] [10] [61]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dimitri. Optimus Software/Iguana UK. gdri.smspower.org. 23 February 2008. 2019-05-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20190523233130/http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Optimus_Software/Iguana_UK. 23 May 2019. live.
  2. Web site: Phipps. Simon. Simon Phipps (game designer). Switchblade. simonphipps.com. 2019. 2019-05-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20190507220737/https://www.simonphipps.com/games/switchblade/. 2019-05-07. live.
  3. Merrett. Steve. In Development - Zool. CU Amiga. 25. EMAP. March 1992. 32–34.
  4. Web site: Interview - George Allan (Arklight). abime.net. 27 April 2012. 2019-05-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20151015163641/http://www.abime.net/interviews/view/interview/id/69. 2015-10-15. live.
  5. Switchblade II instructions (Amiga/Atari ST, EU)
  6. Switchblade II game manual (Atari Lynx, US)
  7. Web site: Driscoll. Paul. Switchblade 2. Retro Gamer. 8 August 2009. 24 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20160910180340/http://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games90/switchblade-2/. 10 September 2016. live.
  8. Slingsby. Dan. Screenscene - Switchblade II. CU Amiga. 14. EMAP. April 1991. 63–64.
  9. Campbell. Stuart. The last word in Japanese arcade adventures arrives in the form of Switchblade II but (and this is the really weird bit!) it isn't even Japanese!. Amiga Power. 2. Future Publishing. June 1991. 32–34. 2019-05-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20190410212139/https://archive.org/stream/Amiga_Power_Issue_02_1991-06_Future_Publishing_GB#page/n31/mode/1up. 10 April 2019. live.
  10. Web site: HalStep. George Allen Mini-Interview. grumpyoldgamers.co.uk. 25 October 2015. 2019-05-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20160422125147/http://www.grumpyoldgamers.co.uk/index.php?/topic/3974-george-allen-mini-interview/. 2016-04-22. dead.
  11. A Cut Above The Rest?. February 1991. The One. emap Images. 29. 12.
  12. The Gremlin Challenge - Switchblade 2. Computer and Video Games. 110. Future Publishing. January 1991. 47.
  13. Nesbitt. Brian. Review - Switchblade 2 - Gremlin - Amiga. The One. 31. EMAP. April 1991. 63–64. 2019-05-24.
  14. ProNews Report: Atari Expands Lynx Line-up. GamePro. 30. IDG. January 1992. 160.
  15. Wolfe. Rachel. Smaaart! - CES Special - Atari. Zero. 34. Dennis Publishing. August 1992. 6.
  16. Bonehead. Special Feature: Lynx Year-End Extravaganza!. GamePro. 38. IDG. September 1992. 134–136.
  17. Hands on Harry. Hands On Portable - Lynx. GameFan. 1. 1. DieHard Gamers Club. October 1992. 51. 2019-05-24.
  18. Next Wave - Directory - Lynx - Switchblade II. Electronic Gaming Monthly. 40. Sendai Publishing. November 1992. 106.
  19. Next Wave - Directory - Lynx - Switchblade II. Electronic Gaming Monthly. 41. Sendai Publishing. December 1992. 138.
  20. Electronic Gaming Monthly Presents The Games Of January 1993... Appearing In Local Stores Now! - Lynx - Switchblade 2. Electronic Gaming Monthly. 42. Sendai Publishing. January 1993. 43.
  21. Web site: スイッチブレード. 幻のソフト研究所. 2019-05-23. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20170222120015/http://www.ne.jp/asahi/oroti/famicom/mab11.html. 2017-02-22. live.
  22. Web site: Covell. Chris. Japanese Secrets! - Famicom: Oct.-Dec. 1992 - Switchblade II. chrismcovell.com. 3 March 2016. 2019-05-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20181006062318/http://www.chrismcovell.com/secret/FC__1992Q4.html#switchblade. 6 October 2018. live.
  23. Web site: yota. Switchblade 2 [NES – Cancelled]]. unseen64.net. 19 January 2016. 2019-05-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20190524003950/https://www.unseen64.net/2016/01/19/switchblade-2-nes-cancelled/. 24 May 2019. live.
  24. Douglas. Jim. Switchblade II - Console-quality graphics arrive on the Amiga thanks to Gremlin's top-notch sequel. ACE. 44. EMAP. May 1991. 50–52. 2019-05-24.
  25. Kleimann. Manfred. Hiro-Ito und seine Großenkel - Switchblade II - Amiga. Aktueller Software Markt. 54. Tronic Verlag. July 1991. 46–47. de. 2019-05-24. 2020-09-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20200912000042/https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=12050&s=1. live.
  26. Web site: Knight. Kyle. Switchblade II (Lynx) - Review. AllGame. All Media Network. 1998. 2019-05-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20141114132043/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=16866&tab=review. 14 November 2014. live.
  27. Reviews - Switchblade II. Amiga Action. 20. Europress, IDG Media. May 1991. 42–43. 2019-05-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180923125059/http://amr.abime.net/review_6066. 23 September 2018. live.
  28. Sharp. Brian. Budget Games - Switchblade II - GBH Gold. Amiga Action. 38. Europress, IDG Media. November 1992. 73. 2019-05-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180923125057/http://amr.abime.net/review_40918. 23 September 2018. live.
  29. Maddock. Jonathan. Biffa's selection - Switchblade (GBH Gold). Amiga Computing. 57. Europress, IDG Media. February 1993. 23. 2020-09-11. 2019-06-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20190601022430/http://amr.abime.net/review_8223. live.
  30. Evans. Maff. Screenplay - Switchblade II. Amiga Format. 24. Future Publishing. July 1991. 69.
  31. Nuttall. Andy. Budget Reviews - Current releases - Switchblade 2 - GBH Gold. Amiga Format. 41. Future Publishing. December 1992. 88.
  32. Mahle. Lutz. Budget - Switchblade II. Amiga Games. 3. CT Computec Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. December 1992. 52. de. 2019-05-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20190524000518/https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/7/73970/2971994-amiga_games_12_1992_052.jpg. 24 May 2019. live.
  33. Semino. Manuel. Games im Test - Geschicklichkeit - Switchblade II. Amiga Joker. 17. Joker-Verlag. May 1991. 42. de. 2019-05-24. 2020-09-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20200912000042/https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=877. live.
  34. Davy. Jeff. Budget - Switchblade II. Amiga Mania. 8. TNT Mailfast. December 1992. 53. 2019-05-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20190524000448/https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/7/73970/2971996-amiga_mania_11_1992_053.jpg. 24 May 2019. live.
  35. Buyer's Guide: Platform Games - Definition Of Sound -- The Great Leap Forwards. Amiga Power. 11. Future Publishing. March 1992. 82–86.
  36. Playtest Extra... Switchblade II. Atari ST User. 67. Europress. September 1991. 52. 2019-05-24.
  37. Saxon. Rampant. Lynx ProReview: Switchblade II. GamePro. 39. IDG. October 1992. 130.
  38. Man. Ferrari. ????|author3=R.I.P.. Salamander. The Final Word game review - Switchblade II -- Gremlin Graphics Ltd.. Game Zero Magazine. 1. 5. Game Zero. January 1993. 2019-05-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180808024436/http://www.gamezero.com/team-0/final_word/lynx/switchblade_2.html. 8 August 2018. live.
  39. Ladoire. Frank. Tests - Switchblade II. Génération 4. 33. Computec Media France. May 1991. 22–23. fr. 2019-05-24. 2020-09-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20200912000041/http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Generation%204/generation4_numero033/Generation4%20033%20-%20Page%20022%20et%20023%20%281991-05%29.jpg. live.
  40. Web site: A. Jung. Robert. Switchblade II - Yet another side-scrolling kill-everything action game that will quickly get lost in the crowd. IGN. Ziff Davis. 6 July 1999. 2019-05-24. 2020-09-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20200912000042/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/07/07/switchblade-ii. live.
  41. Nini. Nourdine. Lynx: Retour Pour Un Combat Ultime! - Switchblade II. Joypad. 14. Yellow Media. November 1992. 115. fr. 2020-09-11. 2020-07-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20200720153927/http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Joypad/joypad_numero014/Joypad%20014%20-%20Page%20115%20%281992-11%29.jpg. live.
  42. Huyghues-Lacour. Alain. Tests: Switchblade II (Amiga). Joystick. 17. Anuman Interactive. June 1991. 194–195. fr. 2020-09-11. 2017-09-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20170916121440/http://abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=30&num=668&album=oui. live.
  43. Rebelote: Switchblade II (ST). Joystick. 19. Anuman Interactive. September 1991. 265. fr. 2020-09-11. 2020-09-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20200912000044/http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Joystick/joystick_numero019/Joystick%20019%20-%20Page%20265%20%281991-09%29.jpg. live.
  44. Nini. Nourdine. Consoles News - Lynx: Switchblade II. Joystick. 33. Anuman Interactive. December 1992. 169. fr. 2020-09-11. 2020-09-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20200912000046/http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Joystick/joystick_numero033/Joystick%20033%20-%20Page%20169%20%281992-12%29.jpg. live.
  45. S.. Monika. Konsolen Power - Handhelds - Atari Lynx - Switchblade II. Megablast. 2. Joker-Verlag. April 1993. 104–105. de. 2019-05-24. 2020-09-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20200912000050/https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AMegablast_DE_1993-04.pdf&page=88. live.
  46. Cheapos! - Switchblade II - GBH. The One. 49. EMAP. October 1992. 105. 2019-05-24.
  47. Evans. Duncan. Reviews - Switchblade II. Play Time. 4. CT Computec Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. August 1991. 46–47. de. 2019-05-24. 2020-09-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20200912000059/https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3APlayTime_DE_1991-0809.pdf&page=46. live.
  48. Ritz. Mathias. Review - Switchblade II - Atari. Play Time. 15. CT Computec Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. August 1992. 61. de. 2019-05-24. 2020-09-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20200912000058/https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3APlayTime_DE_1992-0809.pdf&page=61. live.
  49. Scamps. Olivier. Tests De Jeux - Lynx: Switchblade II. Player One. 27. Média Système Édition. January 1993. 140. fr. 2020-09-11. 2016-04-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20160404111641/http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Player%20One/playerone_numero027/Player%20One%20027%20-%20Page%20140%20%281993-01%29.jpg. live.
  50. Lenhardt. Heinrich. Gaksch. Martin. Computerspiele / Tests - Stilsicher - Switchblade 2 (Amiga). Power Play. 40. Future Verlag. July 1991. de. 2019-05-24. 2020-09-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20200912000117/https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=3890. live.
  51. von Duisburg. Christian. Videospiele / Tests - Switchblade 2 - Lynx. Power Play. 55. Future Verlag. October 1992. 157. de. 2019-05-24. 2020-09-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20200912000118/https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=10091. live.
  52. Ellis. Les. Reviews - Swtichblade 2 - Amiga. Raze. 9. Newsfield. July 1991. 46–47. 2019-05-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180313155102/https://archive.org/stream/RAZE_Issue_09_1991-07_Newsfield_Publishing_GB#page/n45/mode/2up. 13 March 2018. live.
  53. Ricketts. Ed. Screenplay - Gremlin - Switchblade 2. ST Format. 26. Future plc. September 1991. 74–75. 2019-05-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180926103815/http://www.atarimania.com/atari-magazine-issue-st-format-issue-26_1417.html. 26 September 2018. live.
  54. Screenplay - Budget Games - Reduced To Clear - Switchblade 2 (GBH Gold). ST Format. 41. Future plc. December 1992. 100. 2019-05-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180927010528/http://www.atarimania.com/mags/hi_res/atari-st-format-issue-041_100.jpg. 27 September 2018. live.
  55. Hautefeuille. Olivier. Hits: Switchblade II - Amiga. Tilt. 92. Editions Mondiales S.A.. July–August 1991. 50–51. fr. 2020-09-11. 2017-09-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20170919232830/http://abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=28&num=369&album=oui. live.
  56. Hautefeuille. Olivier. Rolling Softs: Switchblade II (Atari ST). Tilt. 94. Editions Mondiales S.A.. October 1991. 76. fr. 2020-09-11. 2020-09-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20200912000116/http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Tilt/tilt_numero094/tilt%20-%20n%C2%B094%20-%20octobre%201991%20-%20page076%20et%20077.jpg. live.
  57. Knauf. Andreas. Test - Auf Des Messers Schneide - Switchblade 2 - Lynx. Video Games. 10. Future-Verlag. September 1992. 133. de. 2019-05-24. 2020-09-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20200912000117/https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AVideoGames_DE_1992-09.pdf&page=131. live.
  58. Lakin. Paul. Review - Switchblade II - Amiga. Zero. 19. Dennis Publishing. May 1991. 64. 2019-05-24.
  59. Lopez. Amaya. Hand Jobs - Switchblade 2 - Lynx. Zero. 35. Dennis Publishing. September 1992. 78–79. 2019-05-24.
  60. Swan. Robert. Leadbetter. Richard. Review - Amiga -- Switchblade 2. Computer and Video Games. 117. Future Publishing. June 1991. 90–91. 2019-06-19.
  61. Web site: Mason. Graeme. The Secret History of Zool. antstream.com. 24 August 2018. 2019-05-24.

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