Mighty Switch Force! 2
Patricia Wagon returns as a cybernetic firefighter.
Mighty Switch Force! 2 is a puzzle-platformer from 2013, developed and published by WayForward Technologies for the Nintendo 3DS. It marks the fourth installment in WayForward's Mighty series and follows up on the 2011 original, *Mighty Switch Force!*. The title launched on the Nintendo eShop in North America on June 13, 2013, and in PAL regions on June 27, with a Wii U port arriving in October of that same year.
**Plot** The Galactic Fire Brigade declares a code red: Planet Land is spontaneously combusting, with fires breaking out everywhere. Patricia Wagon is called in as a cybernetic firefighter, equipped with the Infinity Dousing Apparatus, to rescue the Hooligan Sisters—now reformed since their capture—who are trapped in the infernos. Meanwhile, HQ detects cries from a distressed infant referred to as the "Ugly Secret Baby," or "U.S.B." Since the Rapid Sparkle Transmission System used for teleportation was designed only for adults, Patricia must find another way to transport the babies (which she does by kicking them off-screen).
**Gameplay** The core gameplay resembles the previous title: players control Patricia Wagon, now a firefighter, who must rescue the Hooligan Sisters from blazing fires. As before, she can push blocks between the foreground and background to solve puzzles, reach the sisters, and get to the extraction point as quickly as possible. Her blaster from the first game is replaced by a dousing apparatus that sprays water, used to extinguish fires and defeat enemies. This introduces new block types: mud blocks that dissolve with water, pipe blocks that redirect the water spray, and wooden blocks that must be burned to be destroyed. Levels include par times to beat, and each contains a hidden U.S.B. baby to find.
**Reception** According to Metacritic, *Mighty Switch Force! 2* received "average" reviews on both platforms. Destructoid praised the 3DS version's gameplay but criticized its short length, a flaw it shared with its predecessor.
**Mighty Switch Force! Hose It Down!** *Mighty Switch Force! Hose It Down!* is a puzzle game developed by WayForward, first released for iOS on February 12, 2015, and later ported to Microsoft Windows via Steam on June 4. It is the first spin-off in the Mighty series, built using the same elements, assets, and music as *Mighty Switch Force! 2*.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- WayForward Technologies
- Publisher
- WayForward Technologies / JP · Intergrow
- Director
- Matt Bozon
- Designer
- Matt Bozon / Chris Schroeder
- Artist
- Henk Nieborg
- Programmer
- Larry Holdaway
- Engine
- EngineBlack
- Series
- Mighty
- Released
- Nintendo 3DS / NA · June 13, 2013 · PAL · June 27, 2013 · JP · October 5, 2016Wii U / NA · October 17, 2013 · PAL · October 24, 2013
- Genre
- Action, puzzle, platformer
- Modes
- Single-player
- Platforms
- Nintendo 3DS, Wii U
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game's plot involves the Galactic Fire Brigade issuing a code red as Planet Land spontaneously combusts. Patricia Wagon, now a cybernetic firefighter, uses the Infinity Dousing Apparatus to rescue the reformed Hooligan Sisters from the infernos. Additionally, HQ has detected cries from a distressed infant called the 'Ugly Secret Baby' (U.S.B.), and Patricia must find an alternative transport means, achieved by kicking the babies off screen. Gameplay follows a similar premise to the previous game, with players using Patricia's ability to push blocks in and out of the foreground to rescue the Hooligan Sisters and reach extraction points quickly. Her blaster is replaced by a dousing apparatus that shoots water, used to defeat enemies and put out fires. New block types include mud blocks dissolved by water, pipe blocks that redirect water, and wooden blocks that must be burned. Each level includes par times and a hidden U.S.B. baby to locate.
Reader's Guide
Mighty Switch Force! 2 received 'average' reviews on both platforms according to Metacritic. Destructoid praised the gameplay of the 3DS version but lamented its short length, a fault shared by the game's predecessor. The game later spawned a spin-off, Mighty Switch Force! Hose It Down!, released for iOS in 2015 and Microsoft Windows in June of the same year, which used the same elements, assets, and music. The spin-off was inspired by classic puzzle games like Pipe Mania and received 'mixed' reviews on iOS, with criticism aimed at repetition and an extra dollar cost for more stages.
Did You Know?
- Mighty Switch Force! 2 is the fourth game in WayForward's Mighty series.
- The game was released for the Wii U in October 2013.
- Patricia Wagon's blaster from the previous game is replaced by a dousing apparatus that shoots water.
- A spin-off titled Mighty Switch Force! Hose It Down! was released for iOS on February 12, 2015.
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