BladeSwitch is an action role-playing game directed by NeoNio99 (t∣b∣c), developed by Niobium Moon Studios, and published by Nintendo for release on the Nintendo GameCube 2 console. The game was originally developed by HAL Laboratories and planned for the Nintendo Switch, but after Niobium Moon picked up the project, they delayed it for release on the GameCube 2 to make use of its more powerful hardware.
BladeSwitch features a lot of characters the developers have created and adopted over the years, particularly including Umbra Shader of Shadowcalypse fame. It can be considered a reboot of the Shadowcalypse series, separating Umbra and some related characters from the New Fantendoverse continuity and placing them into a new setting with its own unique lore.
Story[]
The game primarily takes place in the world of Eclipsa, a civilization of the distant future situated on a fragmented planet and its moon. 2,000 years before the events of the game, the planet was colonized by humanity as a desperate escape from a dying Earth; but 800 years afterwards, its moon was somehow blasted into multiple pieces, causing the planet to break apart into floating continents in low orbit alongside said pieces. Evolution ran its course, and life is now very different from what it was before.
In the game's main story, the Kane Initiative, under the command of Violet Stringdriver, is seeking out the cutting-edge hardlight technology known as AXIOM, planning to rip it out of the Eclipsan Empire's grasp and put it in the hands of the people. Eclipsa and its many nations are thrust into the conflict between the empire and the Kane Initiative, and its effects begin to ripple throughout the planet's society and affect the lives of some bold young individuals who never would have imagined meeting each other until now...
Gameplay[]
When the game begins, you are given a player character to customize. You can name your character, but the default name is Rain. Options available to customize are as follows:
- Body type
- Skin color
- Height
- Weight
- Hair (style, color)
- Eyes (lashes, shape, color)
- Nose
- Voice (20 presets available - ten masculine, ten feminine)
Throughout the game, Rain can pick up Zeynnan Crystals and use them to upgrade their skills or purchase items from shops. Zeynnan Crystals are usually dropped from enemies, but they can also be earned by completing side quests for civilians in the Eclipsan Empire's many different continents.
Rain wields a sapphire shortsword in melee combat and uses elemental spells for their ranged attacks. Pressing the X Button makes them jump, while pressing the A Button makes them attack with their sword. Holding the B Button opens up their Spell Menu, and pressing the D-Pad in a certain direction allows the player to swap to using spells of its specified element.
- Up: Electric
- Down: Earth
- Left: Water
- Right: Fire
Pressing the B Button after choosing an element makes Rain charge up for a spell; at that point, tilting the C Stick in different ways activates different spells based on the element being used. Rain can learn new spells as the game progresses.
The Item Menu is accessed with the ZL Button, and you can assign two items to use at any time - one to the Y Button, and one to the L Button. Pressing the ZR Button, meanwhile, opens the Party Menu, allowing you to choose up to three members of your current party to move and fight alongside Rain; simultaneously pressing the R Button and a direction on the D-Pad calls a party member to Rain's location, where they will use their unique abilities to help you in combat or clear a path for the party.
Combos[]
TBA
Items[]
TBA
Gallery[]
