Double Switch (video game)

Double Switch
Double Switch PC cover
Developer(s)	Digital Pictures
Publisher(s)	Digital Pictures
Platform(s)	Sega CD, Sega Saturn, Macintosh, Windows
Release date(s)	1993 (Sega CD) 1995 (SAT) 1996 (WIN and Mac)
Genre(s)	FMV adventure
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	BBFC: PG[1] ESRB: T VRC: MA-13
Media/distribution	CD-ROM (2)

Double Switch is a full motion video game released for the Sega CD (1993), the Sega Saturn, Mac and Windows 95. The game is produced by Digital Pictures and has a similar format to their earlier game titled Night Trap.

Storyline

The game takes place in a large and old apartment complex called the Edward Arms where a young man named Eddie has been locked in the basement, and needs your help to get him out. Each member of the building has their own plot line that overlaps into the main plot line. In the first level you have to quickly move from the various cameras Eddie has placed throughout the building in order to trap the various Mafia hit men and secret society assassins wandering around the building. You also have to get the security codes to free Eddie that the mobsters will preview at certain points during the game. In the subsequent levels you learn that the Mafia hit men and secret society assassins are trying to locate a valuable Egyptian artifact, and that they are willing to do anything it takes, even kill the various other tenants in the building to get what they want. Around this time a mummy will appear and attempt to steal the statue, and you must rely on the handyman to activate hidden alcove traps to stop the mummy. If done correctly, the mummy is revealed to be Eddie himself and the game then moves to act 3 where you must protect the tenants from Eddie's rampage. If done correctly, the player will receive the best ending, in which the statue is revealed to be a key to opening a giant treasury within the complex itself. Afterwards, someone (presumably Eddie) takes the statue out of the lock to the treasury, resealing it. What ultimately happens after that is unknown as the screen then fades to black and the credits roll.

Characters

Eddie: Eddie is the main character of the story. He is trapped in the basement at the beginning of the game, and he makes your job to free him. At first Eddie is viewed as the protagonist but as time goes on, he slowly reveals himself to be insane and attempts to kill the tenants over the statue. If you get the best ending, Eddie accidentally opens a trap door, trapping himself back in the basement. When somebody takes out the statue from the lock, resealing the treasury, it is assumed it is Eddie.

Lyle (the handyman): Lyle is first looked upon as an antagonist, but after Eddie escapes from the basement, he reveals that Eddie is not mentally healthy and must be stopped. If played correctly, Lyle will begin opening new traps that can be used to stop Eddie's rampage. Late in Act 2, it is revealed that Lyle is actually Eddie's father.

Elizabeth: Eddie's mother who is dressed as Nefertiti,is obsessed with proving that her son is not at all bad, and she is in denial about Eddie's insanity.

Alex: Her full name being Alexandra, she is young woman who is currently doing a report on the Edward Arms. She has a romantic crush on Eddie, but her life is put into danger when she reveals to Eddie the truth of her being there.

Brutus: Recently released from prison, Brutus is an older man whose father, we are told, helped build the Edward Arms and knew all of its secrets. Brutus claims his father said there was treasure buried in the building. Brutus has made it his task to find the treasure and hopefully pay off his past debts.

Phoebe and Laura (the "Grads"): Two young women living together as roommates. Phoebe discovers the statue and finds the link between the statue, the building, and the Egyptian treasury. Phoebe's life is soon put into danger as she attempts to protect the statue. Not much is revealed about Laura except that she is Jeff's girlfriend.

Jeff: Jeff is the leader of his band named Scream (their room is listed as "Band"). They are trying to get noticed and have scheduled an audition. Jeff is lucky enough to get Scream its first break, however, his life is soon put into danger as he is pulled into the dark conspiracy behind the statue.

Luigi and the mob: Luigi is a member of a local mafia; he and his thugs have infiltrated the building to collect an amount of money from, and kill, Brutus. After realizing that something is amiss in the building, they remain to investigate. The thugs are to be trapped and the player spends most of the game trapping them.

The Scroll and Key Society: Seen in Act 1, but not revealed until Act 2, the Scroll and Key Society is a group of green clad individuals in dark sunglasses who have come to the building on behalf of Lionel Edward's legacy (Elizabeth's father), whom they claim was a prominent society member. These members are looked upon as intruders and the player is to trap them as they trap the thugs.

Cast

• Corey Haim .... Eddie
• Deborah Harry .... Elizabeth
• R. Lee Ermey .... Lyle (the handyman)
• Camille Cooper .... Alex
• Taylor Negron .... Slick Sammy (the man who auditions the band)
• Irwin Keyes .... Brutus
• Wendy Gazelle .... Phoebe
• David Packer .... Jeff
• Kimberly Oja .... Laura
• Brooke McCarter .... Bang

Versions

All versions are identical, except that the Windows, Saturn and Mac editions were released later with enhanced video quality and Eddie's references to the Sega Genesis controller removed. All versions are an example of the "trap-em-up" genre, which also includes games like Heiankyo Alien (1979), Space Panic (1980), and Night Trap (1993).

Criticism

Double Switch is one of a genre of full motion video and computer games produced in the early to mid-1990s.

Critics felt that Double Switch had better production values than Night Trap (which had been popular largely due to its controversial content) but the game was also difficult and the player really did not have much time to enjoy the production values because they had to quickly move between the cameras to set the traps.

References

1. ^ BBFC rating of Double Switch

External links

• Double Switch at MobyGames