Switchblade is unlike any platformer you’ve ever played. No characters, no super-jumping skills—just a… living sword hilt, silently climbing dangerous cliffs in search of its legendary fragments. Sounds weird? But it’s that strangeness that makes Switchblade so irresistible.
The world in Switchblade is a mysterious land with constantly changing terrain — from cliffs and ruined towers to dark caves or floating misty skies. Each area is like a tricky platform puzzle, forcing you to combine quick reflexes with observation and smart movement strategies to overcome.
The fantasy-inspired visual design with sharp tones, mysterious lighting, and swordplay-inspired details makes your climbing journey not only thrilling but also poetic. The music is gentle, sometimes dramatic, sometimes melancholy, as if telling an ancient legend about a dismembered sword trying to revive itself.
In Switchblade, you will control the sword hilt with the mouse—yes, just with the mouse. Every pull, every gentle or sharp movement of yours will turn into action in the game: the sword hilt will swing, rotate, cling, fling itself, or… fall mercilessly. The physics are extremely sensitive, forcing you to practice patience, feel the momentum, and calculate the path like an aerial dancer.
Don't be discouraged if you fall after a missed jump—because that is the "test" that Switchblade has for the truly brave. Each failure is an opportunity to understand the game mechanics more deeply, control the sword hilt better, and see the beauty in seemingly chaotic movements.
What makes Switchblade different is not just its "unique" gameplay but also its extremely attractive evolution system. Each sword fragment you collect is not just a milestone - it is a real transformation. Additional blades, swords, or special elements on the hilt will let you access fresh skills and techniques, including wall-climbing, high-jumping, or spinning to destroy obstacles.
More importantly, the sword fragments must be collected in the right order. If you miss a piece, the evolution process will be interrupted, making it difficult to overcome the obstacles ahead. Therefore, the collection strategy becomes an indispensable part of the gameplay.
Switchblade is a platform game developed by Simon Phipps - the father of Rick Dangerous - for over 18 months, mostly in his spare time while working at Core Design. Published in Europe by Gremlin Graphics, the game appeared on the Atari ST in December 1989. Later on, it was released on the Amigo, and in 1991 it showed up on 8-bit devices such as the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum. Years later, Switchblade was re-released in a low-cost model; years later, Piko Interactive brought it back on the PC and Sega Genesis.
