Mighty Switch Force! 3DS Review

It's impossible to not fall in love with Mighty Switch Force!, WayForward's first downloadable 3DS game. Everything about it, from the beautiful 2D graphics to the well-composed music brings to mind classics from the 90s, back when Super Nintendo and Genesis battled for 16-bit supremacy.

Thing is, there's so much more to this gem than nostalgia. Beneath the old school presentation lies a wonderful puzzle mechanic that enhances each of the 16 levels, elevating the package beyond simple action platforming fare.

You play as cybernetic peace keeper Patricia Wagon, a Pellet Gun carrying officer charged with capturing the Hooligan Sisters and putting them behind bars.

You do this by blasting a variety of enemies, as well as activating Patricia's Helmet Siren that lets her "switch" blocks and other objects within the environments.

This works one of several ways. In most cases, you'll see platforms in the background and foreground, where tapping the switch button causes them to reverse position

If you need to climb, for instance, you'll hop onto the platform in the foreground, jump and then (while in mid-air) quickly switch so you land on the other platform.

You'll even use them as weapons. Just send a platform from the foreground into the background, get an enemy within range and then switch, causing said platform to send the creature flying towards the screen, which is by far one of the coolest 3D effects in the game; this can also work against you, so be careful.

While on the subject of 3D, Might Switch Force! is one of the best games to make use of 3DS' special feature. The developers play some great tricks, like billowing smoke and bits and pieces of rock so close you can (almost) touch them. The best part? It shouldn't hurt your eyes.

If anything, the biggest knock against this title is length. With just 16 levels, you'll blow through the entire experience in just a couple of days.

That said, consider Mighty Switch Force! a short but undeniably sweet adventure, as well as another wonderful entry for the 3DS eShop. Well done, WayForward. Well done indeed.