Description

"Double Switch," developed by Digital Pictures and initially released in 1993, is a full-motion video (FMV) game that found its way to the Sega Saturn in 1995. The game is set in an old mansion rigged with a series of traps and surveillance cameras. Players assume the role of an anonymous protagonist who has to protect the tenants of the mansion by interacting with various multimedia devices. The gameplay revolves around switching between different camera feeds to monitor the actions of both intruders and residents, triggering traps at strategic moments to thwart burglars and protect the mansion's secrets. The narrative is driven forward through cinematic sequences, interspersed with choice-driven gameplay, typical of the interactive movie experience popular during that era.

The game was noteworthy for its innovative use of FMV in gameplay, a technologically ambitious feat at the time. "Double Switch" starred Corey Haim, Debbie Harry, and other known actors, blending Hollywood talent with video gaming, a novel concept that helped bridge cinematic storytelling with interactive entertainment. Although FMV games eventually waned in popularity due to the limitations of the technology and evolving game design preferences, "Double Switch" remains a memorable example of early 90s video game innovation. It was part of a wave of FMV games that sought to push the boundaries of the gaming narrative, aspiring to meld the allure of movies with the engagement of video games.