Switchblade II

Switchblade II
Original Amiga cover art
Developer(s)Gremlin Graphics
Core Design (ST)
Optimus Software (Lynx)[2]
Publisher(s)
Gremlin Graphics
  • Amiga
    Re-release
    • EU: GBH Gold
    Atari ST
    Original release
    • EU: Gremlin Graphics
    Re-release
    Atari Lynx
    BlackBerry
Programmer(s)George Allan
Artist(s)Paul Gregory
Composer(s)Barry Leitch
SeriesSwitchblade
Platform(s)Amiga, Atari Lynx, Atari ST, BlackBerry
Release
1991
  • Amiga
    Atari ST
    Original release
    • EU: May 1991
    Re-release
    Lynx
    BlackBerry
    • WW: 30 April 2013
Genre(s)Action-platform, run and gun
Mode(s)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.[3] 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.[4][5]

  1. ^ "Electronic Gaming Monthly & Electronic Arts Sports Network Present The Games Of October 1992... Appearing In Local Stores Now! - Lynx - Switchblade 2". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 39. Sendai Publishing. October 1992. p. 41.
  2. ^ Dimitri (23 February 2008). "Optimus Software/Iguana UK". gdri.smspower.org. Archived from the original on 23 May 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  3. ^ Phipps, Simon (2019). "Switchblade". simonphipps.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  4. ^ Merrett, Steve (March 1992). "In Development - Zool". CU Amiga. No. 25. EMAP. pp. 32–34.
  5. ^ "Interview - George Allan (Arklight)". abime.net. 27 April 2012. Archived from the original on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2019.