Kill Switch: Hidden Gem That Pioneered Cover Systems In Third Person Shooters

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Shaheer Zahid

Currently serving as a News Reporter at Tech4Gamers, I have the privilege of combining my love for gaming with the art of storytelling. My role involves crafting engaging narratives that keep our audience abreast of the latest developments in the gaming world.

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While reflecting on third-person shooters, the likes of Gears of War, Uncharted, and Metal Gear Solid come to mind. Something that you’ve probably noticed is the similarities between all these games and how they play alike in terms of mechanics.

The cover system and blind firing have become crucial to the third-person shooter experience, but these mechanics were established in Bandai Namco’s Kill Switch, released in 2003 during the PS2 era.

While not exactly a well-known game, this title is one of the most influential in the industry. It basically defined the current cover system, or what Bandai Namco would call the Offensive Cover System, by perfecting it.

While the game may not be quite popular with fans, its influence on modern-day shooters is undeniable, and we’ll explore what makes the IP so special. Despite being eventually overshadowed, Kill Switch had a lot of strengths.

Why it matters: For a game this obscure to have such a big impact deserves some recognition, even if it was far from perfect.

Perfect Third Person Shooter Gameplay

Despite being released in 2003, Kill Switch was ahead of its time in many ways. The gameplay feels fresh to this date, not to mention the shooting and how it feels so crisp to handle all the weapons.

It emphasized more tactical gameplay and was set in a future where a super soldier was mind-controlled from a distance. The enemy AI knew exactly how to combat the player when they got under cover, forcing players to use different mechanics such as blind fire, melee, or rolling between covers.

Still, the experience did feel bland at times, and there was room for developers to do more. Even for a title from 2003, the graphics were subpar, but the game made up for these weaknesses with its core gameplay.

While Kill Switch didn’t invent the cover system in gaming, 1999’s Winback for Nintendo 64 is credited for this invention; it refined the mechanic to perfection. Moreover, one invention unique to Kill Switch is blind fire, which allows players to shoot guns without aiming down the sight or sacrificing cover.

This mechanic was quite advanced for the time. Unfortunately, the game fell short in the narrative department. Bits of story elements were added to the lore after every mission, leaving the player yearning for more and eventually giving up on whatever scrapes they were given.

Kill Switch Deserves Recognition And Love

It is crazy to think that without Bandai Namco’s work, we probably wouldn’t even have Gears of War. Gears of War is built perfectly on this blueprint, cover system, and tactical approach with better characters, graphics, shooting, and story elements.

Even Cliffy B, the lead designer of Gears of War, admitted that the series first started out as vehicular combat but was later transitioned into a third-person shooter after the team played Kill Switch.

Konami also used similar mechanics for Metal Gear Solid. The same blueprint was used as a base for the likes of GTA, Uncharted, and practically every other third-person shooter to date.

This alone should make the IP Bandai Namco’s magnum opus and put it in the same conversation as Super Mario Bros., Legend of Zelda, etc. Unfortunately, the IP is not well-known and is often disregarded.

In my opinion, a remake could bring more recognition for this title. With fleshed-out story-telling, more maps, modern graphics, and more, the third-person shooter gameplay could shine anew.

Shaheer Zahid

[News Reporter]

Shaheer is currently pursuing a Business degree while also working as a part-time Content Writer. With his deep passion for both writing and video games, he has seamlessly transitioned into a role as a Journalist. Over the past two years, Shaheer has contributed as a freelancer to various websites and landed positions on acclaimed platforms like Gamerant. Currently, his role at Tech4gamers is as a Features Writer, but he also covers News occasionally. Shaheer’s favorite gaming franchises are Assassin’s Creed and the God of War series.

Get In Touch: shaheer@old.tech4gamers.com