With spectacular music, creative gameplay, and tons of replayability, Mighty Switch Force shines.
The basic gameplay is that on each of the initial 16 levels, you have to use your blaster to get rid of enemies, jump to different platforms, and the key piece to this game, the siren, which switches what platforms are solid and which ones are transparent with the push of a button. Each level contains 5 felons you must capture, and when all of them have been caught, you find the transport mech to take you to the next level. Each level has a par time you can attempt to top, which is where the challenge comes in.
There are several types of blocks the siren controls. There's the ordinary goldish-tan color, which are normal solid platforms controlled by the siren on and off. Some of them are lined up in ways to make platforming tricky, requiring you press the button to switch the platforms mid-jump.
There's also launch blocks, which are purple and launch anything (enemy or you!) in the direction of the arrow of the block, when triggered. Some levels contain puzzles built entirely around this, other levels contain mini-puzzles where you need to launch an enemy through a path of these blocks to get them to reach something to trigger a needed switch.
The final of these is the lock blocks, which will not fade out if you are standing on one. Typically, some blocks will fade out and cannot be used while others will fade in. These make the puzzles even more complex. These tend to combine later on with the regular yellow ones to create tricky platform puzzles.
Your blaster, less used than your trusty siren, is capable of breaking small blocks in your path, or defeating enemies. Sometimes an enemy which is hard to defeat may need to be provoked through the blaster then defeated when you switch a block from transparent to solid to crush them. In addition, enemies and yourself can be crushed if you are standing where a block can be switched on, and that block does switch on with you right there (or the enemy). Your character has 3 hearts, and if you lose them all, you are thrown back to the level select. You can choose to retry a level when you pause the game or quit to the level select as well.
There are 16 levels in the game, with increasing difficulty. New puzzles are constantly introduced, and the platforming aspect is made trickier with the switchable blocks needing to be controlled with more and more finesse. Each of these levels are often highly replayable, and are tons of fun. You tend to feel a decent sense of accomplishment at the end of a level. To help you locate any missing felons or the transport mech, the radar on the bottom screen will show you which direction they're in.
The final main level is a "boss level" of sorts, which tests the player on everything they've learned. It uses everything up to that point, while making the player climb higher and higher up a building of sorts... with your siren unable to be controlled yourself, but rather be on a timer. At the end of this is a boss which as it is injured sets free a felon for you to capture (as there are no felons on the climb up). Defeating this boss unlocks a superpowered blaster to use in the first 16 levels, and the first of 5 bonus levels is unlocked. Defeating these bonus levels and reaching the par time on any level is where you'll find yourself soaking up more time playing this game.
The music is fantastic. Trance-like techno beats, and driving rhythms guide you through level after level. There's a couple dozen tracks to the game soundtrack in all, and all of them are quite catchy, with a few standing out really well. I highly recommend giving the OST a listen to even if you're not sold on the game concept, as the soundtrack is just great listening. The sound effects are nice, from the pew pew of the blaster, to the glass-shattering when something is launched into the screen from a block switch, to the explosions of the bomb enemies, and even the voice of the heroine rooting you on. They get the job done well.
The graphics are decent, colorful and fairly satisfying. The drawn environments where the game takes place (a trashy city ridden with criminals running away from the heroine) can be fairly eye-catching, but they slowly tend to recycle themselves slightly. Aside from that, the animations are decently detailed and give everything in the world of the game life. The 3D effects make shooting something into the screen that much more entertaining.
The game's biggest draw is in challenge and replayability. You will not reach any par times on your first run, I can almost guarantee you. But striving for those fast times (speed-running the entire game, essentially), as well as completing those optional bonus levels, is one of the game's most attractive features. The levels themselves are replayable just out of their entertainment value alone, regardless of how fast you can complete the level. Unfortunately, the main game is short, and will likely be completed in just a few hours. The replay value will bring the game time up a lot more, likely over the amount of time it took to beat the main game.
Breakdown:
Pros...
+High replay value
+Great music
+Unique, tricky mix of puzzle and platforming gameplay
+Only $5.99 off the eShop - really, get this game
Cons...
-Graphics, while nice, are slightly recycled later in the game
-The one boss in the game lacks challenge and is a Giant Space Flea From Nowhere
Scores:
Gameplay - 8.5/10
Presentation - 7/10
Sound - 8.5/10
Graphics - 7.5/10
Tilt - 8.5/10
Overall - 8/10
While a short main game experience, Mighty Switch Force is filled with flatteringly tricky puzzle/platforming gameplay that begs to be replayed. It also has fantastic music your ears will love, and the detailed sprite animations are catching. For only $6 off the eShop you can get a very good, worthwhile game for the 3DS. If you have an interest in platformers and puzzles, and access to the eShop, this is a game you definitely want to try.