Honestly, licensed games are usually a dumpster fire. You know the drill: a movie or show comes out, a studio rushes a half-baked tie-in to store shelves, and the kids who buy it end up with a glitchy mess that barely feels like the source material. But then there’s Kim Possible What’s the Switch. Released back in 2006 for the PlayStation 2, this game was a weird, beautiful outlier. It didn't just meet the bar; it actually had some heart.
If you grew up on the Disney Channel, you probably remember the "So the Drama" era of Kim Possible. The show was at its peak. The game dropped right around the time fans were clamoring for Season 4. Most Kim Possible games lived on the Game Boy Advance or DS, but this was the first—and only—time she got the full home console treatment. It’s a 2.5D side-scroller developed by Artificial Mind and Movement (now known as Behaviour Interactive, the Dead by Daylight people). Yeah, the same folks who make horror games now used to make Kim jump over laser grids.
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The Plot Twist That Actually Worked
The setup for Kim Possible What’s the Switch is basically a high-stakes episode of the show. Kim and Ron go to Monkey Fist’s castle to stop Dr. Drakken and Shego from swiping the Mystical Monkey Idol. Things go sideways. Fast.
During the scuffle, Ron and Drakken both grab the idol, and—you guessed it—their minds get swapped. Suddenly, we have Ron’s consciousness in Drakken’s blue-skinned body and Drakken trying to navigate Ron’s clumsy life. Before anyone can fix it, Professor Dementor swoops in, steals the idol, and runs off.
This forces a "reluctant alliance" between Kim and Shego. This is the secret sauce of the game. For years, fans loved the rivalry/chemistry between the cheerleader hero and the sarcastic, green-fire-wielding villain. Putting them on the same side, even if Shego is constantly rolling her eyes and threatening to leave, was a stroke of genius. You alternate between them throughout the levels, and the contrast in their playstyles keeps the pace from getting stale.
Kim vs. Shego: How the Gameplay Breaks Down
While they share some DNA—both have a grappling hook and can wall-jump—they feel different enough to matter.
- Kim Possible: She’s all about the gadgets and finesse. You’ve got her signature hair dryer (which works as a grappling tool), her EMP, and some pretty acrobatic kicks. Kim is fast. She feels like the platforming specialist.
- Shego: She’s the powerhouse. Instead of fancy gadgets, she uses her plasma powers to blast through obstacles and enemies. There’s something deeply satisfying about finally playing as Shego and just wrecking a group of monkey ninjas with those glowing green hands.
The game even throws in segments where you play as Rufus, the naked mole rat. These are usually smaller, puzzle-focused sections inside vents or tight spaces. It’s a nice palette cleanser between the heavy combat and platforming.
Why This Game Avoided the "Licensed Game Curse"
One major reason Kim Possible What’s the Switch holds up is the presentation. Most budget titles for the PS2 looked like they were rendered on a potato. This one? It actually looked like the cartoon. They used a cel-shaded art style that captured Stephen Silver’s original character designs perfectly. The animations are surprisingly fluid. When Kim does a roundhouse kick, it has that specific "snap" from the show.
Then there’s the voice acting. Disney didn't cheap out here. They got the actual cast. Christy Carlson Romano, Will Friedle, Nicole Sullivan, and John DiMaggio all reprised their roles. Having DiMaggio voice Drakken-in-Ron’s-body (and vice versa) leads to some genuinely funny dialogue that feels consistent with the show's humor.
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The Challenge Factor
Don't let the "E for Everyone" rating fool you. While you can breeze through the main story in about five or six hours, 100% completion is a beast. The game is packed with collectibles:
- Kimmunicator Tokens: These unlock bonus content like concept art.
- Club Banana Tokens: These are for the fashion-forward, unlocking new outfits.
- Hidden Costumes: You can get everything from Kim’s Bueno Nacho uniform to her "A Sitch in Time" gear.
The level design is surprisingly vertical. You’ll find yourself swinging through London, Tokyo, and an Arctic base, often having to backtrack or time your jumps perfectly to snag a token that’s just out of reach. It borrows a bit of that "Viewtiful Joe" energy where the action is on a fixed path but the world feels deep.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Difficulty
A common complaint in old reviews was that the game was "too easy." I'd argue those reviewers weren't the target audience. For a ten-year-old in 2006, some of those later platforming sections in the Arctic were legitimately tough. There’s a section with a "Doomsday Device" that requires some pretty tight timing.
If you're playing it today on an emulator or original hardware, you'll probably notice the AI of the henchmen is actually decent. They don't just stand there; they have a shorter delay between attacks than enemies in the GBA versions. You can’t just button-mash your way through every encounter without taking a few hits.
Why It Still Matters in 2026
We live in an era of endless remakes and "remastered" collections. While Kim Possible hasn't had a new console game in decades, Kim Possible What’s the Switch remains the gold standard for how to handle the IP. It respected the fans. It didn't try to reinvent the wheel; it just gave people a way to "play" an episode of their favorite show.
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It’s also one of those rare games that captures the "Girl Power" era of the mid-2000s without feeling forced or preachy. Kim and Shego are just competent, cool characters who happen to be the ones getting things done while the guys are stuck in a body-swap comedy of errors.
How to Play It Now
If you want to revisit this classic, you’ve basically got two options:
- Original Hardware: Track down a physical copy for the PS2. They aren't incredibly expensive yet, but prices for "good" licensed games from this era are starting to creep up as collectors realize they aren't all shovelware.
- Emulation: Using something like PCSX2 on a modern PC. This is actually the "definitive" way to see the game, as you can up-res the cel-shading to 4K. It looks stunning when the jagged edges are smoothed out.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're looking to dive back into the world of Middleton, start by checking your local retro game shop or eBay for a copy of the PS2 disc. Ensure you have a working Memory Card, as those 11 missions and various unlockable costumes require a fair bit of save space. For those going the emulation route, make sure to enable "wide-screen hacks" in your settings to truly enjoy the cinematic 2.5D environments without the old 4:3 stretching.