Switchblade
Developer(s)Core Design
Publisher(s)
Designer(s)Simon Phipps
Composer(s)Ben Daglish
SeriesSwitchblade
Platform(s)
Release
1989
  • Atari ST
    Amiga
    GX4000
    Amstrad CPC
    Commodore 64
    ZX Spectrum
    BlackBerry
    • WW: 30 April 2013
    Atari Jaguar
    • WW: September 7, 2017
    Megadrive
    • WW: April 15, 2019
Genre(s)Action-platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Switchblade is a 1989 side-scrolling action-platform run and gun video game originally developed by Core Design and published by Gremlin Graphics in Europe for the Atari ST home computers.[1][2] The first installment in the eponymous two-part series, the game is set in a dystopian future where players assume the role of Hiro from the Blade Knights as he embarks on a journey to defeat Havok, the main antagonist who broke free from his imprisonment after the sacred Fireblade was shattered into several pieces. Its gameplay consists of run and gun action mixed with platforming and exploration elements, with a main single-button configuration.

Heavily drawing inspiration from both Japanese and Western pop culture as well as various games, Switchblade was solely created by Core Design co-founder and Rick Dangerous designer Simon Phipps in his spare time, who took a year and a half to complete it while working alongside on other projects at the company.[2][3][4] Initially released for the Atari ST platform, the title was later ported to other microcomputers and consoles including the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad GX4000, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum, each with several changes and additions from the original version.[5]

Since its original release on the Atari ST, Switchblade garnered mostly positive reception from critics who praised multiple aspects such as the anime-inspired presentation, visuals, sound design and gameplay but others criticized the game's slow pacing, controls and difficulty. Other versions of the game were met with a similarly positive response from reviewers. Its critical success would prompt the development of a sequel eight months later, Switchblade II, which was created by a new team at Gremlin Graphics without the involvement of Phipps and garnered a positive reception from the public as with the original title upon its release on Amiga, but was not widely ported to other platforms.[6][7]

Gameplay

Atari ST version screenshot

Switchblade is a side-scrolling action-platform game with run and gun elements where players assume the role of Hiro on his quest through a subterranean labyrinth in Undercity, fighting against enemies and avoiding hazards in order to reunite 16 scattered fragments of the sacred Fireblade sword and use it against Havok, an evil entity who broke free from his imprisonment.[1][8]

The player guides Hiro in a flip-screen environment, where unexplored areas of the screen are obscured from view until the player character enters them. Depending on the level of charge, Hiro can use melee attacks against enemies and he can also use weapons that are found in either crates, hidden on certain rooms or suddenly appearing in the area, which are equipped into his cybernetic arm.[1][8]

The player also fights bosses that are blocking the current path in order to progress further. Players can also collect letters spelling bonus and extra, which grants points and an extra life respectively. All of the actions in the game are performed different 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 GX4000 version. Losing a life gives Hiro a brief period of invincibility but once all lives are lost in the playthrough, the game is over, forcing players to restart from the beginning.

Synopsis

Switchblade takes place in a post-apocalyptic future where the Undercity in the Cyberworld of Traxx has been submerged into chaos and slaughtering with the awakening of Havok, an evil entity who broke free from his ten thousand-year-long imprisonment once the sacred Fireblade shattered into pieces and lost its power, along with the death of the Blade Knights order. Hiro, the last of the deceased knight order, embarks on a quest to restore the Fireblade and defeat Havok to end his evil regime.[8]

Development

Switchblade was Simon Phipps' first written title for the Atari ST, inspired by Japanese and Western pop culture.

Switchblade was solely created by Core Design co-founder Simon Phipps in his spare time and became the first title he wrote for the Atari ST, but due to the nature of its development process, it took approximately eighteen months in reaching completion while he began and finished various other projects at his company, most notably Rick Dangerous, with Phipps stating he desired producing a project that felt similar to arcade and home console titles during this era due to his fascination with Japanese artwork.[1][2][3][4]

Several pieces of media from both Japanese and Western pop culture served as sources of inspiration for the project such as Akira, Blade Runner, Cities of the Red Night, Mad Max and The Wild Boys music video, as well as video games like Bubble Bobble, Ranarama and Underwurlde, which would influence various gameplay mechanics in the final product, in addition to disadvantages with the ST hardware that also affected its design structure.[2][3] Phipps stated that he enjoyed making the game, as he did not face deadlines and pressure, citing his then-artistic and technical abilities as the project's only limitations.[2][4] However, Phipps said on his personal web page about the game's development cycle that due to his constantly improving programming experience while working on other titles at Core Design, he regressed back to previously written code for improvement, referring it as the only negative of the project.[2] The music was composed by Ben Daglish.[2]

Release

Switchblade was first released for the Atari ST and later the Amiga in Europe in December 1989, with minimal differences between each one.[1][2] In 1990, an enhanced conversion of the game was published by Gremlin Graphics for the Amstrad GX4000 and made use of the system's Mode 1, which allowed a 320x200 resolution display and more colors on-screen.[5] It was also ported to the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum by Gremlin as well in 1991.[1][2] Almost all versions of the game would later be re-released as budget titles by GBH, GBH Gold and Kixx respectively. In 2017, Piko Interactive ported and released Switchblade worldwide to the Atari Jaguar after acquiring the rights to the title, with a brand-new hand-drawn cover art by Simon Phipps.[9] Based upon the original ST version, this version features music from the Amiga port.[10] A Sega Genesis port came in 2019, featuring redrawn visuals and a rearranged soundtrack.[11]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
Publication Scores
Atari ST Amiga GX4000 Amstrad CPC C64 ZX Spectrum
ACE — 805 / 1000[12] — — — —
Aktueller Software Markt 6 / 12[13] 6 / 12[13] — — — —
Amiga Action — 80%[14] — — — —
Amiga Computing — 79%[15] — — — —
Amiga Format — 85%[16] — — — —
Amiga Joker — 69%[17] — — — —
Amiga Power — 70%[18]
[19]		 — — — —
Amstrad Action — — 94%[20] — — —
Amstrad Cent Pour Cent — — 90%[21] 91%[22] — —
Commodore Computer Club — 7+[23] — — — —
Commodore Format — — — — 78%[24] —
Computer and Video Games — 93%[25]
83%[26]		 — — — —
CVG Mean Machines — — 92%[27] — — —
Crash — — — — — 81%[28]
Games-X — — — — — [29]
The Games Machine — 78%[30] — — — —
Génération 4 90%[31] 90%[31] — — — —
Guida Videogiochi — 17 / 20[32] — — — —
Joystick — 80%[33] 87%[34] 88%[35] — —
K — 805 / 1000[36] — — — —
Mean Machines — — 91%[37] — — —
MicroHobby — — — — — 89%[38]
The One 88%[3]
[39]		 [39] — — — —
The One for Amiga Games — [40] — — — —
The One for ST Games [41] — — — — —
Player One — — 82%[42] — — —
Power Play 79%[43]
56%[44]		 79%[45]
79%[43]		 — — 72%[43] —
Raze — — 75%[46] — — —
Sinclair User — — — — — 69%[47]
ST Action 79%[48] — — — — —
ST Format 58%[49] — — — — —
Tilt — 17 / 20[50] 16 / 20[51] 15 / 20[52] — —
Your Commodore — — — — 85%[53] —
Your Sinclair — — — — — 92° / 100°[54]
93° / 100°[55]
Zero 88 / 100[4] 90 / 100[4]
89/ 100[56]		 — — — —
Zzap!64 — 70%[57] — — 67%[58]
78%[59]		 —
Awards
Publication(s) Award(s)
Amiga Power (1991) #91 All Time Top 100 Amiga Games[60]

Switchblade received mostly positive reception since its release across multiple platforms.

Legacy

A sequel, Switchblade II, had already been in development by the time Switchblade was released eight months on the market and garnered critical success that prompted its creation, but Phipps had no direct involvement in its development and was handled by a new team instead.[1][6][7] It was released in 1991, the same year that the enhanced Amstrad GX4000 console port of the original was published and received positive reception from critics and the general public.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Switchblade". Retro Gamer. 27 December 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Phipps, Simon (2019). "Switchblade". simonphipps.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Whitta, Gary (December 1989). "Review - Switchblade - From the team that put the dangerous into Rick comes Gremlin's mix of action and exploration. Gary Whitta's going underground..." The One. No. 15. EMAP. pp. 113–114.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 McDonald, Duncan; Kelly, Sean (January 1990). "Review - Switchblade". Zero. No. 3. pp. 52–53. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Top Ten Amstrad GX4000 Games". Retro Gamer. 25 April 2014. Archived from the original on 11 March 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  6. 1 2 Slingsby, Dan (April 1991). "Screenscene - Switchblade II". CU Amiga. No. 14. EMAP. pp. 63–64.
  7. 1 2 Driscoll, Paul (8 August 2009). "Switchblade 2". Retro Gamer. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 Switchblade manual (Amstrad GX4000, EU)
  9. ↑ Williams, Carl (23 July 2017). "Switchblade Comes to Atari Jaguar". retrogamingmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  10. ↑ CyranoJ (11 July 2017). "Another Release From Piko Interactive". AtariAge. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  11. ↑ "New Wave of games, 12 titles up for a short pre-order!". Piko Interactive. 4 March 2019. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  12. ↑ Scotford, Laurence (January 1990). "Screentest - Switchblade -- GREMLIN's little Cyber Knight goes forth into arcade adventure land". ACE. No. 28. EMAP. p. 51. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  13. 1 2 Zimmermann, Bernd (January 1990). "Action Games - Dutzendware". Aktueller Software Markt (in German). No. 38. Tronic Verlag. p. 39. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  14. ↑ Merrett, Steve; Johns, Doug; White, Steve (January 1990). "Gremlin - Switchblade". Amiga Action. No. 4. Europress, IDG Media. pp. 94–95. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  15. ↑ Green (February 1990). "Games: Switchblade - Hiro today, gone tomorrow". Amiga Computing. No. 21. Europress. p. 52.
  16. ↑ Smith, Andy (January 1990). "Screen Play - Switchblade -- Gremlin". Amiga Format. No. 6. Future Publishing. p. 46.
  17. ↑ Rönitz, Uwe (February 1990). "Games im Test - Geschicklichkeit - Switchblade". Amiga Joker (in German). No. 4. Joker-Verlag. p. 28. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  18. ↑ Campbell, Stuart (June 1991). "Game Reviews - Budget Titles - Switchblade (Kixx)". Amiga Power. No. 2. Future Publishing. p. 89. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  19. ↑ "Buyer's Guide: Platform Games - Definition Of Sound -- The Great Leap Forwards". Amiga Power. No. 11. Future Publishing. March 1992. pp. 82–86.
  20. ↑ Lawton, Rod (January 1991). "Console Review - Switchblade". Amstrad Action. No. 64. Future Publishing. pp. 50–52.
  21. ↑ Robby (November 1990). "Cartouche - Switchblade". Amstrad Cent Pour Cent (in French). No. 31. Média Système Édition. pp. 24–25. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  22. ↑ Barbe, Robert (June 1991). "Softs - A La Une -- Switchblade". Amstrad Cent Pour Cent (in French). No. 38. Média Système Édition. pp. 16–17. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  23. ↑ "Speciale videogames: Switchblade". Commodore Computer Club (in Italian). No. 73. Systems Editoriale. April 1990. p. 54. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  24. ↑ Dyer, Andy (July 1991). "Powertest - Switchblade - Just how sharp is the latest release from the Sheffield software house? Our reviewer takes a close look under the manhole cover and he's quite blunt about what he finds". Commodore Format. No. 10. Future plc. pp. 32–33. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  25. ↑ Rignall, Julian (December 1989). "Review - Amiga - Switchblade". Computer and Video Games. No. 97. Future Publishing. pp. 116–117. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  26. ↑ "Amiga Bytesize - Switchblade (Kixx)". Computer and Video Games. No. 116. Future Publishing. July 1991. p. 77.
  27. ↑ Rignall, Julian (November 1990). "Complete Guide to Consoles - The Complete Games Guide - GX4000 - Swtichblade". Computer and Video Games Mean Machines. No. 4. EMAP. pp. 58–59.
  28. ↑ Roberts, Nick; Caswell, Mark (March 1991). "Reviews - Switchblade". Crash. No. 86. Newsfield Publications. p. 45.
  29. ↑ "8-Bit Extravaganza - Spectrum -- Switchblade (Gremlin)". Games-X. No. 15. Europress. 7 August 1991. p. 35. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  30. ↑ Caswell, Mark (January 1990). "The Games Machine Reviews: Part 2 - Switchblade". The Games Machine. No. 26. Newsfield Publications. p. 82.
  31. 1 2 "Tests - Arcade/Action - Switchblade". Génération 4 (in French). No. 17. Computec Media France. December 1989. pp. 40–42. Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  32. ↑ "Hits: Switchblade - Amiga". Guida Videogiochi (in Italian). No. 12. Gruppo Editoriale Jackson. June 1990. p. 30.
  33. ↑ Minh, Duy (January 1990). "Tests - Amiga - Switchblade". Joystick (in French). No. 1. Anuman Interactive. p. 126.
  34. ↑ Demoly, Jean-Marc (November 1990). "Console News - GX 4000 - Switch Blade". Joystick (in French). No. 10. Anuman Interactive. p. 117. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  35. ↑ Hamon, Sébastien (August 1991). "Tests - Switchblade (CPC)". Joystick (in French). No. 18. Anuman Interactive. p. 254. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  36. ↑ "Switchblade - Il piccolo cavaliere cibernetico della GREMLINS entra nel mondo delle avventure arcade". K (in Italian). No. 13. Glénat. January 1990. p. 49.
  37. ↑ Matt; Julian (January 1991). "GX4000 Review - Switchblade". Mean Machines. No. 4. EMAP. pp. 62–54.
  38. ↑ "Switch Blade - Mientras los niños deciden si prefieren ser Indianas o Rick Dangerous, Gremlin imagina al aventurero definitivo, alto, guapo y con "luz propia"". MicroHobby (in Spanish). Vol. 3, no. 210. HobbyPress. May 1991. p. 29.
  39. 1 2 Presley, Paul (April 1991). "Review - The Price Is Right - Switchblade". The One. No. 31. EMAP. p. 81.
  40. ↑ Scotford, Laurence (August 1991). "The One Budget - Cheap 'N' Cheerful - Switchblade (Kixx)". The One for Amiga Games. No. 35. EMAP. p. 80.
  41. ↑ Scotford, Laurence (August 1991). "The One Budget - Cheap 'N' Cheerful - Switchblade (Kixx)". The One for ST Games. No. 35. EMAP. p. 80.
  42. ↑ Giordano, Patrick (November 1990). "Tests De Jeux - Amstrad GX 4000 - Switchblade". Player One (in French). No. 3. Média Système Édition. p. 52. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  43. 1 2 3 Weitz, Volker (February 1990). "Die 100 Besten Spiele - Switchblade". Power Play (in German). No. 2 Sonderhefte. Future Verlag. p. 102. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  44. ↑ Fisch, Henrik (April 1990). "Power Tests / Computerspiele - Switchblade - Atari ST". Power Play (in German). No. 25. Future Verlag. p. 106. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  45. ↑ Fisch, Henrik (February 1990). "Power Computerspiele - Switchblade (Amiga)". Power Play (in German). No. 23. Future Verlag. p. 48. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  46. ↑ Boardman, Julian (March 1991). "Reviews - Switchblade". Raze. No. 5. Newsfield. p. 38. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  47. ↑ Jenkins, Chris (March 1991). "Review - Switchblade". Sinclair User. No. 109. EMAP. p. 23.
  48. ↑ Clarkson, Nick; Bunker, Alan (January 1990). "Switchblade - The sacred Fireblade has shattered, and its sixteen parts scattered deep within an underground labyrinth. The people of the Cyberworld need a hero - quickly!". ST Action. No. 21. Gollner Publishing. p. 74. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  49. ↑ "Screenplay extra - Switch Blade". ST Format. No. 25. Future plc. August 1991. p. 67. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  50. ↑ Huyghues-Lacour, Alain (January 1990). "Hits: Switchblade (Amiga)". Tilt (in French). No. 74. Editions Mondiales S.A. p. 56. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  51. ↑ Huyghues-Lacour, Alain (January 1991). "Rolling Softs: Switchblade - GX 4000, disquette Gremlin". Tilt (in French). No. 86. Editions Mondiales S.A. p. 78. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  52. ↑ Hautefeuille, Olivier (July–August 1991). "Rolling Softs: Switchblade - Amstrad CPC, disquette Gremlin". Tilt (in French). No. 92. Editions Mondiales S.A. pp. 78–80. Archived from the original on 19 September 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  53. ↑ Taylor, Richard (August 1991). "Richard "Halibut" Taylor stands in dark alleys and threatens passers-by as he tests out Switchblade..." Your Commodore. No. 82. Alphavite Publications. pp. 46–47.
  54. ↑ Ide, Andy (March 1991). "Reviews - Switchblade (Gremlin)". Your Sinclair. No. 63. Future plc. p. 73.
  55. ↑ Leach, James (February 1992). "Replay - Switchblade (Gremlin)". Your Sinclair. No. 74. Future plc. p. 59.
  56. ↑ Wilson, David (July 1991). "Budgets - The Price I$ Right - Switchblade". Zero. No. 21. p. 75.
  57. ↑ Hogg, Robin; King, Phil (February 1990). "Zzap! Test - Switchblade (A)". Zzap!64. No. 58. Newsfield Publications. p. 74.
  58. ↑ "Zzap! Test! - Switchblade (64)". Zzap!64. No. 76. Newsfield Publications. August 1991. p. 18.
  59. ↑ "Flashback! - Switchblade (64)". Zzap!64. No. 82. Europress Impact. March 1992. p. 37.
  60. ↑ "Amiga Power's All-Time Top 100 Amiga Games". Amiga Power. Future Publishing. May 1991. p. 24. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
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