kill.switch

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the video game. For the safety device, see kill switch.

kill.switch

Developer(s)	Namco
Publisher(s)	Namco
Engine	RenderWare
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC, GBA
Release date	PlayStation 2, Xbox ^NA 2003-10-28 ^PAL 2004-02-20 Windows 2004-03-30 Game Boy Advance ^NA 2004-09-16 ^PAL 2004-10-22
Genre(s)	Third-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: Teen PEGI: 16+

kill.switch is a video game developed by Namco in 2003 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC. A Game Boy Advance port was released in 2004. As a relatively straightforward (and short) action game, the most distinguishing characteristic of kill.switch is a mechanic that has your character taking cover behind objects and around corners - like WinBack some years before or a third person version of Namco's own Time Crisis series, and later implemented heavily in Epic Games' title Gears of War.

[edit] Story

The main character in the game is a remotely controlled super-soldier, Nick Bishop. For most of the game the soldier is remotely controlled by a man known only as "Controller." Controller is apparently using a direct neural connection to Bishop. Bishop's suppressed memories occasionally break through, causing Controller headaches. The memories feature a woman and the phrase, "Say my name." Controller, under orders from a man named Archer, uses Bishop in a series of combat missions designed to convince two nations or groups known as the North and the West to go to war. Archer plans on war profiteering in the resulting war, in part by selling copies of the technology that controls Bishop. Moments before Bishop launches a warhead equipped with a biological agent, a woman known as "Duchess" takes over Bishop, in the process causing a surge that kills Controller. Duchess uses Bishop to attack the base Controller is operating out of and eventually restore Bishop's memories. It is revealed that the woman from Bishop's memories was his new wife. She was killed by Archer when Archer captured Bishop. Archer wanted the technology in Bishop for resale. Freed, Bishop makes a final assault on Archer.

Kill.Switch is notable for being reviewed badly by many critics because of the game's short length, while having many innovative features that were heralded as wonderful achievements by later games with more advanced technology and development; blind fire and the cover system being the most distinctive features which were widely heralded later in Gears of War.