Editing Kill.Switch

{{GameInfobox
|image = Killswitch box cover.jpg
|caption = 
|developer = Namco, Visual Impact
|publisher = Namco, Destination Software
|distributor = Zoo Digital Publishing
|designer = Chris Esaki
|engines = RenderWare
|na_rel = {{Release|2003|October|28|NA|PlayStation 2, Xbox}}<br>{{Release|2004|September|16|NA|Game Boy Advance}}
|eu_rel = {{Release|2004|February|20|EU|PlayStation 2, Xbox}}<br>{{Release|2004|October|22|EU|Game Boy Advance}}
|au_rel = {{Release|2004|February|20|AU|PlayStation 2, Xbox}}<br>{{Release|2004|October|22|AU|Game Boy Advance}}
|ww_rel = {{Release|2004|March|30|WW|Microsoft Windows}}
|genre = Third-person shooter
|features = Single-player, Multiplayer
|ratings = ESRB-T, PEGI-16+
|platforms = Xbox, PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Advance
|media = CD-ROM
|input = 
}}
'''Kill.Switch''', also known as '''''Kill Switch''''' (stylized as ''kill.switch''), is a [[video game]] developed by [[Namco]] in 2003 for the [[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox]], and [[IBM PC clone|PC]]. A [[Game Boy Advance]] adaptation was released in [[2004 in video gaming|2004]]. The GBA game was created independently of Namco, due to a licensing deal with [[Destination Software]].<ref name="ign">[http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/552/552995p1.html IGN kill.switch Review]</ref> 

As a relatively straightforward third-person shooter, the most distinguishing characteristic of ''Kill Switch'' is its [[cover system]], a mechanic that has the player character taking cover behind objects and around corners in a manner similar to Namco's own ''[[Time Crisis (series)|Time Crisis]]'' series of [[light gun shooter]]s as well as [[Koei]]'s third-person shooter ''[[WinBack]]''<ref name=Ashcraft>{{cite web|author=Brian Ashcraft|url=http://kotaku.com/5452654/how-cover-shaped-gamings-last-decade|title=How Cover Shaped Gaming's Last Decade|publisher=Kotaku|date=January 20, 2010|accessdate=2011-03-26}}</ref> and [[Konami]]'s [[stealth game]] ''[[Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty]]''.<ref name="Did Gears of War Innovate the Cover System">{{cite web|url=http://www.planetxbox360.com/article_5757/Did_Gears_of_War_Innovate_the_Cover_System|publisher=Planet Xbox 360|first=Stuart|last=Lindsay|title=Did Gears of War Innovate the Cover System|date=2009-12-02|accessdate=2009-12-12}}</ref> However, ''Kill Switch'' was the first third-person shooter to feature the cover system as its core game mechanic,<ref name=Play>[http://www.play-mag.co.uk/opinion/why-vanquish-will-make-gears-of-war-obsolete/ Why Vanquish will make Gears Of War obsolete], ''[[Play (UK magazine)|Play]]''</ref> and introduced the blind fire mechanic to the cover system.<ref name="autogenerated1">[http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/20195/Kill-Switch-Gladius-Go-Gold Kill.Switch & Gladius Go Gold], Voodoo Extreme, [[IGN]]</ref>

==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 from 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. Afterwords, Archer is killed and Bishop walks away.

==Reception==
''Kill Switch'' was regarded as having a thin plot and simplistic level design, but the gameplay mechanics such as the cover system were considered engaging. It was compared to the ''[[Time Crisis]]'' series. The Xbox version of the game was said to contain enhanced graphics over the PS2 version. GameSpot awarded the Xbox version a 6.9 out of 10.<ref>http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/killswitch/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review</ref>

The GBA version of the game was similarly received, with IGN calling it a "solid portable action title" and awarding it a 7.5 out of 10.<ref name="ign"/>

In the design of ''[[Gears of War]]'', lead developer [[Cliff Bleszinski]] of [[Epic Games]] credits ''Kill Switch'''s cover system as one of the influences he put into the game's design.<ref name="gamespot.com">{{cite web
| url          = http://www.gamespot.com/news/6167213.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;0
| title        = GameSpot - GDC 07: Cliffy B disassembles Gears, mentions sequel
| accessdate   = 2007-07-05
}}</ref>

===Legacy===
''Kill Switch'' is best remembered for being the first third-person shooter to feature the [[cover system]] as its core game mechanic,<ref name=Play/> and for introducing the blind fire mechanic to the cover system.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> Several shooters took inspiration from ''Kill Switch'' and implemented similar cover systems. In the design of ''[[Gears of War]]'', lead developer [[Cliff Bleszinski]] of [[Epic Games]] credits ''Kill Switch's'' cover system as one of the influences they put into the game's design,<ref name="gamespot.com"/> as ''Kill Switch's'' lead designer Chris Esaki was employed by Epic Games and was involved in the development of ''Gears of War''.<ref name="teamxbox_gears">[http://features.teamxbox.com/xbox/1747/Gears-of-War-Five-Things-You-Didnt-Know/p1/Gears Gears of War: Five Things You Didn’t Know], [[Team Xbox]]</ref>

[[Naughty Dog]]'s ''[[Uncharted: Drake's Fortune]]'', which began development in 2005 and was released in 2007,<ref name="gamespotinterview">{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6181783.html?sid=6181783&part=rss&subj=6181783|title=Q&A: Naughty Dog on Uncharted|accessdate=2008-08-11|date=2007-10-26|author=Randolph Ramsay|publisher=GameSpot AU}}</ref> also took inspiration from ''Kill Switch'', which ''Uncharted's'' lead designers Evan Wells and Amy Hennig credited as inspiration for the game's cover system.<ref>[http://www.1up.com/features/uncharted-afterthoughts Uncharted: Drake's Fortune Afterthoughts], [[1UP.com|1UP]]</ref> Other examples of shooters that featured ''Kill Switch''-inspired cover systems include the 2005 third-person shooter ''[[Nemesis Strike|CT Special Forces: Fire for Effect]]'',<ref>[http://www.videogamer.com/xbox/ct_special_forces_fire_for_effect/review.html CT Special Forces Fire For Effect Review], [[VideoGamer.com]]</ref> and the 2006 games ''[[Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas]]'',<ref>[http://www.gamecritics.com/rainbow-six-vegas-2-review Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 – Review], Game Critics</ref> a [[first person shooter]] released in the same month as ''Gears of War'',<ref name=GSpot-Vegas>[http://au.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/rainbowsixvegas/review.html Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas Review], [[GameSpot]]</ref> and ''[[Killzone: Liberation]]'', a third-person action game released a month before ''Gears of War''.<ref name=Ashcraft>Brian Ashcraft, [http://kotaku.com/5452654/how-cover-shaped-gamings-last-decade How Cover Shaped Gaming's Last Decade], [[Kotaku]]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/searchresult.asp?term=kill%2Eswitch&itemid=918960 GameRankings PC reviews]
* [http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/searchresult.asp?term=kill%2Eswitch&itemid=914861 GameRankings PS2 reviews]
* [http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/searchresult.asp?term=kill%2Eswitch&itemid=914862 GameRankings Xbox reviews]
* [http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/searchresult.asp?term=kill%2Eswitch&itemid=924301 GameRankings GBA reviews]
*{{moby game|id=/killswitch |name=Kill.switch}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kill Switch}}