Double Switch (video game)
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Products | Double Switch |
Double Switch is an adventure interactive movie initially launched on Sega CD, Sega Saturn, and Microsoft Windows, with subsequent remasters for mobile platforms, Steam, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. Developed by Digital Pictures, the title adopts a "trap-em-up" gameplay style akin to Night Trap. It incorporates live-action full-motion video featuring Corey Haim and includes a HUD for player interaction.
Cast
- Corey Haim as Eddie
- Deborah Harry as Elizabeth
- Camille Cooper as Alex
- R. Lee Ermey as Lyle the Handyman
- Irwin Keyes as Brutus
- David Packer as Jeff
- Wendy Gazelle as Phoebe
- Kimberly Oja as Laura
- Taylor Negron as Slick Sammy
Storyline
Taking place within the Edward Arms apartment complex—constructed by industrial magnate Lionel Atwater Edward III and styled with an ancient Egyptian motif—the narrative revolves around defending residents from criminal elements by managing cameras and traps. Eddie, the building’s current owner and central figure, installs security systems but finds himself confined in the basement by one of the tenants. He guides the player to operate these defenses to protect inhabitants and capture the handyman, Lyle.
Eddie discloses that a murderer lurks among the residents. A confrontation between Eddie and Lyle reveals Eddie’s psychological issues and that Lyle and Elizabeth are his parents who have restrained him for protection. The tenants’ stories intertwine: Alex pursues investigations into suspicious occurrences; Laura and Phoebe, an archaeology student, possess a distinctive Egyptian artifact; the band Scream aims for a recording contract; Brutus, son of a former mobster, searches for hidden gold to resolve debts; Elizabeth tries to revive her relationship with Lyle.
A clandestine group targets Phoebe and Jeff due to their possession of the statue, culminating in a tense encounter during Scream’s audition where the player must deploy traps to safeguard them. Lyle aids by enabling control over additional traps to counteract Eddie’s interference. The murderer appears disguised as a mummy, attempting remote attacks on tenants. The player must prevent these assaults, ultimately exposing Eddie as the culprit.
Elizabeth refuses to acknowledge Eddie’s condition and locks all tenants inside. With assistance from the player, they arm themselves using Brutus's firearm to defend against Eddie’s attacks until he is subdued and re-imprisoned. Elizabeth reveals that the statue serves as a key to unlock a vast treasury within Edward Arms. The residents locate this treasure before it is sealed again by removing the statue key.
Gameplay
Players are tasked with safeguarding Edward Arms’ tenants through surveillance cameras, sensors, and traps spread across eight rooms. The gameplay restricts players from physically entering the building, allowing observation of only one room at any given time, similar to Night Trap. However, unlike Night Trap, a mini map displays tenant and intruder locations in each room, accompanied by alarms triggered upon intruder entry. Intruder appearances are frequently randomized, demanding swift and precise responses.
Traps can be armed and activated to capture either tenants or intruders; ensnaring tenants results in immediate game termination, while failing to trap most intruders also leads to game over. Major threats include adversaries attempting to disable power or phone lines or directly assault residents—successful enemy actions cause instant failure.
The game is divided into three distinct levels ("acts"), each presenting specific goals: Act 1 involves monitoring security codes necessary to free Eddie; Act 2 unlocks access to new concealed traps; Act 3 features a final boss who must be trapped six times to avoid tenant attacks that would end the game.
Development
Subsequent editions for Windows, Sega Saturn, and Mac platforms showcased improved video clarity and eliminated mentions of the Sega Genesis controller. Despite these updates, the in-game television continues to display a screenshot originating from the Sega CD release across all versions.
Reception
The Sega CD iteration received a 6 out of 10 rating from Electronic Gaming Monthly, which described it as "similar to Night Trap, but somewhat more engaging." Manny LaMancha of GamePro highlighted the quality of the full-motion video and Thomas Dolby’s soundtrack, emphasizing the game’s capacity to captivate players through its objectives.
Reviews for the Saturn edition were varied. A critic from Next Generation praised its production quality and performances but found fault with the clumsy user interface and monotonous gameplay. While video quality was acceptable on the Sega CD, it was considered inferior on the Saturn. Previewing the Saturn release, Electronic Gaming Monthly labeled it confusing with visuals below Saturn expectations, concluding that it did not represent an enhanced version of Night Trap, but rather a title with limited attraction.
Re-release
After Digital Pictures declared bankruptcy, ownership of the games transferred to a group that included the visual effects studio Flash Film Works. In December 2016, Double Switch underwent remastering using original source footage and was launched as a mobile application on Google Play and iTunes. Later, in June 2018, William Mesa and Flash Film Works collaborated with Screaming Villains and Limited Run Games to bring out Double Switch: 25th Anniversary Edition for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.